Segment 2 of S5E7 Good & Bad Nematodes, The Gardening with Joey and Holly Radio show

The gardening with Joey and Holly Radio Show heard weekly March - Oct

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In segment two Joey and Holly go over how to know if you have a good or bad
nematodes
Often referred to as roundworms, nematodes are not closely related to true worms. They are multicellular insects with smooth, unsegmented bodies. The nematode species that feed on plants are so tiny that you need a microscope to see them. The adults often look long and slender, although some species appear pear-shaped. These plant parasites are not the same roundworms as the filarial nematodes that infect the human body, spread diseases, and wreak havoc on the immune system.

Some nematodes feed on the outer surfaces of a plant while others burrow into the tissue. Soil-dwelling nematodes are the most common culprits, but some species can damage plant roots, stems, foliage, and flowers.
No matter where they feed, these tiny worms can seriously damage to crops with their sharply pointed mouths by puncturing cell walls. The real damage occurs when a nematode injects saliva into a cell from its mouth and then sucks out the cell contents. The plant responds to the parasitic worms with swelling, distorted growth, and dead areas. Nematodes can also carry viruses and bacterial diseases inject them into plants. The feeding wounds they make also provide an easy entrance point for bacteria and fungi.
Beneficial nematodes that enrich the soil may feed on the decaying material, insects, or other nematodes.

Being slender and transparent, they cannot often be seen by the naked eye. Other groups of worms may be confused with nematodes. ... With a few exceptions, if you can see an organism, with the naked eye, it is not a plant-parasitic nematode.

Most nematodes are harmless, but a handful of troublesome species attack the outside surfaces of plants, burrowing into the plant tissue and causing root, stem, folar and even flower damage. Other nematodes live inside the plants for part of their lives, causing damage from the inside out

Are nematodes harmful?
While most of the thousands of nematode species on Earth are not harmful, some cause diseases in humans and other animals or attack and feed on living plants. ... Luckily, there are ways to deter these pesky pests from disrupting your garden soil
Beneficial Nematodes are microscopic, non-segmented roundworms that occur naturally in soil throughout the world. Inside the nematode's gut is the real weapon — beneficial bacteria that when released inside an insect kill it within 24 to 48 hours

ADD good nematodes
The solution can be applied using a watering can, Hose End Sprayer, backpack or Pump Sprayer or through irrigation or misting systems. Mix nematodes into water and gently agitate. Apply when the sun is low on the horizon as the nematodes are photophobic and do not like direct light.
What To Look For for bad nematodes
Typical symptoms of nematode damage can appear above and below the ground in foliage and roots. Foliar symptoms generally appear in the form of stunting of plants, premature wilting, and leaf chlorosis (yellowing). Plants displaying these symptoms generally occur in patches rather than showing across an entire field, following the usual irregular distribution of nematodes in fields.
Under heavy nematode infestation, crop seedlings or transplants may fail to develop, maintaining a stunted condition, or die, causing poor stand development. Under less severe pressure, symptom expression may be delayed until later in the crop season after a number of nematode cycles have been completed. In this case, the above-ground symptoms may not be as readily apparent.
Root symptoms caused by sting or root-knot nematodes can present very noticeable symptoms. Sting nematodes can form a tight mat of short roots that often assume a swollen appearance. New(continued)