THE EFFECT OF PLANT ROOTS ON THE NEMATODE POPULATION OF THE SOIL

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Abstract
The number of nematodes in the rhizosphere of wheat, barley, oats, soybeans, and peas is greater than in the adjacent root-free soil. Pratylenchus sp. is present in the rhizosphere of grains in greater numbers than in the rhizosphere of legumes; Paratylenchus sp. on the other hand showed a preference for legumes. Other genera identified were more abundant in the rhizosphere than in root-free soil, but were not as numerous as Pratylenchus or Paratylenchus, nor did they show a preference for any of the plants tested. One nematode species (Tylenchorhynchus) was present in small numbers and was equally abundant in the rhizosphere and in root-free soil. The consistent distribution pattern of nematodes in the rhizosphere of wheat and of soybeans, observed at high levels of illumination (1200 foot-candles), was not maintained when the illumination was reduced to 300 ft-c or less.