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The decline of a pea root eelworm (Heterodera göttingiana Liebscher) population in the absence of host plants
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 March 2009
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1. The decline of a pea root eelworm (Heterodera göttingiana Liebscher) population, of which most eggs were formed in 1955, was measured annually from 1955 to 1958 in twenty-two microplots containing loamy sand, and measurements were continued in one of these microplots from 1960 to 1962.
2. Sampling errors increased when egg populations were more than 4 years old.
3. Two crop rotations (fallow, and maize, fallow, carrots) had no effect on decline rate from 1955 to 1958, nor did initial eelworm density.
4. After 3 years the egg population was still 48% of that in 1955. Subsequently the population declined on average by more than 50% per annum. It is suggested that host crops should not be grown more than once every five years.
5. Cysts declined more slowly, with a mean annual rate of 26%.
6. A sharp decline in eggs during the first year followed by at least one year's relative quiescence may be general in Heterodera species; with H. göttingiana unexpected crop failures may be associated in part with the prolongation of this relative quiescence for more than 1 year.
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- Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1963
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