New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts

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Populations of Longidorus elongatus (Nematoda: Longidoridae) in two New Zealand soils under grazed pasture

G. W. Yeates

Landcare Research
Private Bag 11052
Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
yeatesg@landcareresearch.co.nz

C. F. Mercer

P. C. D. Newton

AgResearch
Private Bag 11008
Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand

Abstract Information on the “needle nematode” Longidorus elongatus in New Zealand pastures has hitherto been limited. Monthly sampling of Pukepuke black sand and Manawatu fine sandy loam yielded L. elongatus populations up to 87 500 m^–2 (February) and 21 600 m^–2 (August). First stage juveniles appeared when soil temperature exceeded 15°C; females dominated populations every month and males were rare. Differences in abundance between soils may reflect the pore space available to these relatively large nematodes. Specimens survived 24 weeks storage at 5 and 15°C. While abundance tended to decline with depth, at 30–40 cm depth in Pukepuke sand, numbers increased, perhaps through the impact of groundwater levels on rooting patterns. In Pukepuke sand, plant species were associated with significantly different populations of L. elongatus, with Trifolium repens and T. subterraneum supporting more than Lolium perenne. More L. elongatus were found in grazed pasture with lower plant available P.

Keywords clovers; developmental stages; grasses; host plants; seasonal patterns; soil type; storage; vertical distribution

Z08014; Online publication date 11 September 2008; Received 13 May 2008; accepted 31 July 2008

New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2008, Vol. 35: 287–296
0301–4223/08/3504–0287 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2008

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