Evaluation of summer and winter cover crops for variations in host suitability for Meloidogyne incognita, M. arenaria and M. javanica

Summary Root-knot nematode (RKN) is an important pathogen on vegetables; therefore, planting a non- or poor host cover crop following susceptible vegetable promising management option. This study builds upon previous studies and evaluates the variations in status of candidates for reducing reproduction RKN populations ( Meloidogyne incognita , M. arenaria javanica ) Georgia, USA, to shed light inconsistencies regarding crops effectiveness field. Two glasshouse trials tested 14 plant species 18 cultivars plus tomato ‘Rutgers’. Sixty days after inoculation, roots were evaluated galling (GI) egg mass index (EI). Gall formation was not reliable indication many crops, which had higher EI than GI. Based GI, all either non-hosts, ranging from non-hosts hosts three species, except blue lupine hairy vetch, GI equal control. EI, only bahiagrass, bermudagrass, marigold, millet velvetbean ranged hosts. Eleven varied screened, non-host susceptible, could explain field trials.