The role of varieties and nematicides in controlling plant-parasitic nematodes in Isis mill cane supply area

PLANT-PARASITIC NEMATODES (PPN) adversely affect sugarcane productivity. PPN, particularly root-knot nematodes (RKN), are common in sandy soils in the Isis mill cane supply district and have significant impacts on the profitability and performance of ratoons. This study was undertaken to determine the effect of varieties and nematicide treatment on PPN populations and sugarcane productivity. Four varieties, KQ228A, Q183A, Q242A and Q245A, were grown in large commercial strips that were split for +/? nematicide application in the plant cane crop. The effect of nematicide application on PPN populations was short lived (less than five months), whereas populations of PPN were lowest under Q245A and KQ228A for root-knot and lesion nematodes, respectively. This trial demonstrates that there is a potential to refine the current susceptibility classifications to better enable growers and advisors to select an appropriate variety.