Garden Pest and Plant Disease Listing - NE

NEMATODE: These are microscopic worms, some of which are troublesome to plants mostly infesting the roots, but sometimes the leaves; others are beneficial, preying on soil pests. Nematode problems are hard to identify because the pests are so small and symptoms are similar to soil-borne diseases: lack of vigor, yellowing foliage, and wilting or dieback. The soil types often cause small knotty growths or spots on the roots. If you suspect Nematodes, contact your cooperative extension office for proper identification. To avoid further problems, buy healthy plants, keep them growing vigorously, rotate crops, and carefully dispose of infested plants. Chitin and soil sterilization are also effective controls. (See solarization and soil pasteurization in the dictionary of botanical terms for info. on sterilizing the soil.)

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