Foliar nematodes

Nematodes are tiny, colorless, cylindrical round worms that occur naturally in soils throughout the world.

Nematodes are very tiny, microscopic worms that mostly live in soils, although foliar nematodes live in leaves. Beneficial nematodes are an effective tool against certain nursery and greenhouse pests, especially fungus gnats. Editor’s note: go to bit.ly/beneficialnematodes to learn more.

While some nematodes attack and kill pests, other species harm plant roots. These worms can cause tremendous economic damage in production horticulture. As their bodies are typically microscopic in size and transparent, they are difficult to detect and to identify. Some nematodes, like root-knot nematodes, occur in soil or in subterranean plant parts. They feed on living plant tissues, influence the plant's physiology and may cause below and above ground symptoms such as root galling, lesions, stunting, wilting or chlorosis. Foliar nematodes, also named bud and leaf nematodes, occur mainly within the leaves and crowns of many herbaceous perennials.

Foliar nematodes have broad host ranges and are capable of infecting hundreds of species of plants, including woodies and perennials.