Nematodes are far more prevalent and a more serious problem than many farmers think. This was the important message conveyed by Dr Driekie Fourie, technical product lead for Syngenta Seedcare in Africa and the Middle East during a panel discussion with Yolandi Furniss, marketing lead, Syngenta Seedcare South Africa, at the International Seed Federation’s World Seed Congress. The conference was hosted by the South African National Seed Organisation and held recently in Cape Town.
Nematodes are commonly referred to as roundworms. Microscopically small and mostly transparent, they can usually not be observed with the naked eye: a microscope is needed to identify many of the nematode species.
VARIOUS GROUPS
The biggest plant-parasitic nematode is about 11mm long but very thin, only a few micrometres in diameter, and it can be seen as a little thread in a petri dish when extracted in water, Fourie pointed out.
There are different groups of nematodes. Some, the plant-parasitic nematodes, are seen as pest organisms while others are as seen as beneficial as they play an important role in nutrient recycling in soils, and feed on other organisms.
Mature adult females in some species, such as the root-knot nematode, change to a swollen, pearlike shape, whereas the females of other species such as lesion nematodes remain slender worms.
According to Fourie, three of the most important nematode species that have a major impact on agriculture in South Africa and that farmers should be aware of, include rootknot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.), the cyst nematodes (Globodera spp. and Heterodera spp.) and lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus spp.).
IMPACT IS UNDERESTIMATED
Bu hikaye Farmer's Weekly dergisinin September 01, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Farmer's Weekly dergisinin September 01, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
