For more information, please contact Roi Levin at roigator@yahoo.com, or by leaving a message at
(352) 392-1901 ext. 194.

Click here for a list of bedding plants, woody, perennial and other ornamental plants' susceptibility to four species of root-knot nematodes. **

  ** PLEASE NOTE:    The link above will be continuously updated.  The information presented
                                      here may be used as a guide!  It will not hold true in all situations!  Plant
                                      cultivars and varieties may react differently to nematode species, races,
                                      and populations.  Additional research is needed to evaluate the response
                                      of ornamentals to root-knot nematode isolates.

                                      As part of my master's degree research, I evaluate the susceptibility of
                                      ornamental plants to root-knot nematode infection.  If you come across
                                      a root-knot infected ornamental plant (use the pictures below as a guide
                                      for infection symptoms), please send it in for processing to the address
                                      below.  It is important that plant roots are attached to the above-ground
                                      portion of the plant.  Place sample, along with a moist paper towel, in a
                                      sealed plastic bag.  Please include the following information with the sample:

                                                               -  Collection date
                                                               -  Infected plant's location (city, county)
                                                               -  Plant name and cultivar (if available)
                                                               -  Contact information

                                     Send samples to the following address:

                                                                   Roi Levin
                                                                   University of Florida
                                                                   Department of Entomology and Nematology
                                                                   Building 970 Natural Area Drive
                                                                   Gainesville, FL  32611
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Following are pictures of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) infected roots:

                                                Click on image for a larger picture

Passiflora spp. roots  Passiflora spp. roots  Passiflora spp. roots
 
 
 

  Tomato infected with M. arenaria race 1

          Tomato infected with M. javanica

  Tomato infected with M. incognita race 2

  Tomato infected with M. mayaguensis
 
 

  Pentas infected with Meloidogyne spp.      Pentas - above-ground symptoms
 
 

  Wax Myrtle root infected with Meloidogyne spp.

  Potted plant's roots infected with Meloidogyne spp.

African violet exhibiting symptoms of nematode damage (incipient wilting)

  Begonia plants dying due to root-knot

  Bottle brush exhibiting a thin canopy due to root-knot

  Boxwood exhibiting symptoms of nematode damage in patches

  Boxwood decline due to root-knot

  Gardenia decline due to root-knot

  Impatiens roots infected with Meloidogyne spp, showing typical galling symptoms

  Ligustrum roots infected with Meloidogyne spp.