Nematicide efficacy at managing Meloidogyne arenaria and non-target effects on free-living nematodes in peanut production

Identical trials were conducted at two sites, one in 2017 and another in 2018. Both sites are commercial peanut production fields in Jackson County, FL. Site 1 (2017) was located at 30.903460,−85.089192 and Site 2 (2018) was located at 30.874462,−85.039201. Both sites were Troup sand soil type. Site 1 (2017) had 86% sand, 7% silt, and 7% clay, whereas Site 2 (2018) had 91% sand, 4% silt, and 5% clay. Both sites had a history of cotton, peanut, and cantaloupe production. Various nematicides, including 1,3-D, aldicarb, and fluopyram, have been used at each site in prior years, but no product has been used continuously at either site. Aside from preplant nematicide treatments, each year of the study the site was maintained uniformly with conventional fertilizer and pesticide management according to standard grower practices for the area. The sites were conventionally tilled and irrigated. Both sites were reported by the grower as having root-knot nematodes. Both years, the root-knot nematode susceptible peanut cultivar “Georgia 06 G” was planted in mid-May (Table 1).

The trial was a randomized complete block design. Treatments were preplant nematicide applications: untreated control, 1,3-D preplant in-row application, aldicarb granular in-furrow at-planting, and fluopyram liquid in-furrow at-planting. For treatment two, 1,3-D was applied as Telone II (Dow AgroSciences, Indianapolis, IN) at 32.7 l/ha or 38.6 kg active ingredient (a.i.)/ha. In both years, 1,3-D was applied approximately two weeks before planting using a fumigation rig with shanks 30 cm deep and spaced 91 cm apart − placed in rows where seed would be planted using GPS (Table 1). The shank chisel trace was disrupted and sealed using a rolling basket in order to minimize fumigant loss. This application rate and method is a common practice for Florida peanut growers that use 1,3-D. The application rate is less than the maximum labelled rate because of economic considerations. For aldicarb application, AgLogic 15GG (AgLogic Chemical Company, Chapel Hill, NC) was applied at 7.84 kg/ha (1.18 kg a.i./ha) and dispensed in-furrow at planting from hopper boxes via tubing. For fluopyram application, Velum Total (Bayer CropSciences, Research Triangle Park, NC) was applied in-furrow at planting at 1.32 l/ha (0.24 kg fluopyram a.i./ha). Velum Total also contains the insecticide imidacloprid, which was applied at 0.34 kg a.i./ha. Fluopyram and aldicarb were applied at the maximum labeled rates using the methods specified on the label. Treatments were applied in six-row strips, corresponding to planter width across the length of the field (approximately 1,000 m in 2017 and 400 m in 2018) and replicated four times.

A 9.1-m section of the trial was designated as the sampling plots for nematode assessment because it was not feasible to accurately assess nematode abundances across the entire length of each treatment strip. Because of this discrepancy, nematode counts are not intended to accurately reflect populations in the entire field or correlate to trial yield for the entire strip.

Soil nematode abundances were assessed before fumigation, midseason at 62−67 days after planting (DAP), and just before harvest at 122−126 DAP (Table 1). At each sampling instance, 12 cores were collected from the 9.1 m sampling section within each strip. Cores were collected with an Oakfield tube to 30 cm deep and were collected from the four central rows of the strip and 9 cm or less from rows of peanut plants. Samples were bulked and homogenized by strip.

Nematodes were extracted from soil by sucrose-centrifugation (Byrd et al., 1976) and the nematode community (plant-parasitic and free-living nematodes) was quantified morphologically using an inverted light microscope. Nematode abundances by trophic group (herbivores, fungivores, bacterivores, and omnivores plus predators) were calculated and analyzed (Yeates et al., 1993). Abundances of individual genera that were consistently present in most plots were also analyzed. Genera analyzed included the herbivore Meloidogyne; fungivores Filenchus, Aphelenchus, and Aphelenchoides; the bacterivores Cephalobus, Eucephalobus, and Acrobeles; and the omnivore Aporcelaimellus. Diversity of individual genera and trophic guilds were estimated by calculating Hills N1 index (Neher and Darby, 2006) using individual genera or trophic guilds as inputs, respectively. Trophic guilds are grouping of nematodes with the same feeding type and c-p values, which reflect similar ecological niches (Bongers, 1990; Bongers and Ferris, 1999). The N1 index is easier to interpret than other diversity indices as N1 values estimate the number of abundant groups; nematode genera or trophic guilds in this case.

At the 2017 trial site, M. arenaria was confirmed as the root-knot nematode species present in the field based on molecular identification of root-knot nematode females extracted from peanuts grown in the trial. At the 2018 trial site, a mixture of root-knot nematode species was suspected based on root-knot nematode population trends. For this reason, in the 2018 trial, root-knot nematode speciation was based on root-knot nematode females extracted from coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides), a host of the major root-knot nematodes in the region, grown in field soil from the 2018 trial. The presence of both M. arenaria and Meloidogyne incognita, for which peanut is a non-host, were detected in the 2018 trial.

For both trials, identification was conducted as follows. Genomic DNA was extracted from six individually picked gravid females from the root samples for mitochondrial haplotyping (Pagan et al., 2015). The intergenic spacer and part of the adjacent large subunit ribosomal RNA gene (lrDNA) were amplified using MORF/MTHIS and TRNAH/MHR106 primers pairs. The sequence polymorphism in lrDNA revealed by restriction pattern following digestion with the restriction enzymes HinfI and MnlI, and the mitochondrial haplotypes were determined. Finally, the species identities were confirmed using MI-F/MI-R primer set for four of the females and Far/Rar primer set for two of the females for M. incognita and M. arenaria, respectively (Adam et al., 2007).

Galling on roots and pods was assessed at approximately two to four weeks before harvest each year (Table 1). From each sampling plot, five plants were dug and the root systems were washed free of soil. Roots and pods were washed and rated separately for percent coverage of galls from root-knot nematode.

Crop yield was measured from the four central rows for the entire length of each treated strip. Peanut pods were inverted in early October and were harvested three to six days later (Table 1). Yield was measured for each strip by weighing the peanut-collecting truck before and after harvesting each strip using portable platform scales. Because the length of each strip varied, area harvested for each strip was calculated from field length measured with harvester-mounted GPS units in order to calculate yield per hectare.

Crop yield as well as root-knot nematode abundances and damage were analyzed separately for each year because a mixed population of root-knot nematodes was present in 2018. Root-knot nematode soil abundances were analyzed separately by season (preplant, midseason, and harvest). These variables were subject to one-way ANOVA.

All other variables, including trophic group abundances, abundances of individual nematode genera other than root-knot nematodes, and N1 diversity indices were combined between years individually by season. These variables were subject to a modified two-way (year by nematicide treatment) ANOVA where nematicide and nematicide by year interactions were treated as fixed effects of interest and year was treated as a random effect not of scientific interest. For all variables, if nematicide main effects were significant (P < 0.05), means were separated using Fisher’s LSD (P < 0.05).

Nematicide application did not significantly affect root-knot nematode or total herbivores in any season or year (Table 2). Numerically, 1,3-D reduced root-knot nematode soil abundances in Fall 2017. Root galling was not significantly affected by nematicide treatments in 2017 (mean 14.5% root surface galled) or 2018 (1.3% root surface galled). In 2017, pod galling was significantly greater for fluopyram (15.6% pod surface galled) than control (11.3%), aldicarb (9.4%), or 1,3-D (7.6%). In 2018 pod galling was minimal (0.70% pod surface galled on average) and not affected by treatments. In 2017, application of all nematicides tested increased peanut yield compared with untreated control (Fig. 1). In 2018, nematicide treatments did not significantly affect peanut yield (mean yield 7253 kg/ha).

Definite conclusions about the efficacy of the nematicides tested in this trial cannot be made because PRKN pressure was low in 2018, so only one year of data (2017) under meaningful nematode pressure is available. The 2017 results show that all three nematicides-fluopyram, aldicarb, and 1,3-D can effectively increase yield. Despite a lack of statistically significant root-knot nematode management, yield benefits of nematicide in 2017 were likely due to nematode management since 1,3-D has activity almost exclusively against nematodes and no yield benefits of any product were observed in 2018 when nematode pressure was lower. Additionally, numerical trends in PRKN soil abundances suggest that yield benefits were due in part to PRKN control. For fluopyram, some yield increase due to fungal pathogen and insect management cannot be ruled out entirely because fluopyram has activity against fungi and the product used included the insecticide imidacloprid. Similarly, aldicarb has activity against insects. The discrepancy between yield benefits and nematode soil abundances and galling in 2017 can be explained in part by the fact that nematode measurements were made in small plots that did not represent the whole strips on which yield was collected. Average nematode pressure may have been greater in the whole strip than small plots and the large strips may have helped minimize variability, increasing power to detect statistical differences among treatments. In future research, aids to assess nematode damage on a large scale, such as aerial imaging, may be valuable tools for assessment.

From prior research, aldicarb and 1,3-D are known to have efficacy in managing PRKN as both products can help reduce PRKN abundances and increase yield, although inconsistency among years and sites is common (Rodriguez-Kabana and Robertson, 1987; Kinloch and Dickson, 1991; Rodriguez-Kabana et al., 1994a, 1994b; Rodriguez-Kabana et al., 1995; Johnson et al., 1999). Similar to this study, yield responses and ability to detect management of PRKN soil abundances and galling tend to be worse in longer crop rotations and other situations where PRKN infestation is lower (Rodriguez-Kabana and Robertson, 1987; Kinloch and Dickson, 1991; Rodriguez-Kabana et al., 1994a, 1994b; Rodriguez-Kabana et al., 1995; Johnson et al., 1999). Fewer studies on 1,3-D than on aldicarb in peanut have been reported, but in one study, 1,3-D increased yield and managed PRKN both years (Rodriguez-Kabana and Robertson, 1987), whereas in another study, 1,3-D was effective at both reducing PRKN and increasing yield at one site where PRKN infestation was high, but ineffective at another site where PRKN infestation was low (Kinloch and Dickson, 1991). Further research is needed to determine the efficacy of fluopyram, aldicarb, and 1,3-D relative to one another for managing PRKN in peanut production.

Application of 1,3-D reduced total fungivore soil abundance relative to untreated and relative to fluopyram in midseason and fluopyram in fall (Table 3). Among individual genera of fungivores, Aphelenchoides was not significantly affected by nematicide application in any season, but both Filenchus and Aphelenchus soil abundances were significantly reduced by fumigant 1,3-D application relative to untreated control at midseason only (Table 3). Filenchus abundances were also greater for fluopyram than 1,3-D at midseason.

Neither the abundance of total bacterivore nor individual bacterivore genera (Cephalobus, Eucephalobus, and Acrobeles) were significantly affected by nematicide application in any season (Table 4). Similarly, neither total omnivore-predator nor the omnivore Aporcelaimellus abundances were significantly affected by nematicide application in any season (Table 5). Genera diversity and trophic guild diversity were also not significantly affected by nematicide treatments in any season. There were an estimated six to eight abundant genera and three to four abundant trophic guilds in the trials based on Hill’s N1 diversity index.

Based on these results, the fumigant 1,3-D was detrimental to free-living nematodes, namely fungivores, but the non-fumigants aldicarb or fluopyram were no more detrimental than not applying nematicide. In general, nematicide effects on free-living nematodes in this study were less than that observed in other studies. Greater fumigant than non-fumigant impacts on the nematode community is consistent with most previous research (Sanchez-Moreno et al., 2010; Timper et al., 2012; Watson and Desaeger, 2019). The lack of impact of aldicarb application on free-living nematodes is not consistent with prior literature (Smolik, 1983; Grabau and Chen, 2016; Grabau et al., 2018). Prior aldicarb studies were conducted on heavier soils in Midwestern corn or soybean systems which may partially account for the greater non-target effects in other studies (Smolik, 1983; Grabau and Chen, 2016; Grabau et al., 2018). Additionally, to investigate specific hypotheses, two studies on aldicarb used a higher than labeled rate at 2.94 kg/ha (Grabau and Chen, 2016; Grabau et al., 2018), whereas this study used the current labeled rate of 1.18 kg a.i./ha. Smolik (1983) observed non-target effects on microbial-feeding nematodes and Dorylaimids (primarily omnivores) at both a similar rate to this study (1.12 kg a.i./ha) and a higher rate (2.24 kg a.i./ha), so aldicarb application rate does not account for differences between the two studies.

Limited research has been conducted on fluopyram influence on free-living nematodes, but a study in Florida strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) production found that fluopyram applied at 0.48 or 0.50 kg a.i/ha − approximately double the rate in this study − had minimal influence on any group of free-living nematodes, which was similar to this study (Watson and Desaeger, 2019). In contrast, in Florida turfgrass, fluopyram had a substantial and consistent negative effect on all groups of free-living nematodes (Waldo et al., 2019), but practices differed from this study, based on the differing plant systems, which may account for the differences between the two studies. In Waldo et al.’s (2019) study, nematode populations were monitored at a more shallow depth (7 vs 30 cm), nematicide applications covered a larger area (broadcast vs in-furrow), nematicide applications were repeated more times (4 applications vs 1), and total fluopyram applied was greater (2.0 kg a.i./ha compared with 0.24 kg a.i./ha) than in this study.

Fungivores were more sensitive to 1,3-D nematicide application than bacterivores or omnivore-predators. In general, fumigants, including 1,3-D, tend to affect a broad spectrum of free-living nematodes (Sanchez-Moreno et al., 2010; Timper et al., 2012; Watson and Desaeger, 2019). In other studies, the trophic groups affected by 1,3-D varied somewhat, but there were no consistent trends among studies that a particular group was more sensitive to 1,3-D application than any other group (Sanchez-Moreno et al., 2010; Timper et al., 2012; Watson and Desaeger, 2019). Fumigation affected a more narrow spectrum of free-living nematodes in this study than others and this may be because it was applied at a lower rate than in other studies based on standard practices and economic constraints in the respective crops (Sanchez-Moreno et al., 2010; Watson and Desaeger, 2019) or scientific choices (Timper et al., 2012). Specifically, in this study, 1,3-D was applied at 38.6 kg a.i./ha before planting. Sanchez-Moreno et al. (2010) applied 1,3-D at 100 kg a.i./ha and mixed with chloropicrin at 182 kg a.i./ha. Watson and Desaeger (2019) applied 1,3-D at 125 kg a.i./ha and mixed with chloropicrin at 190 kg a.i./ha. Timper et al. (2012) applied 1,3-D at 66 kg a.i/ha before planting and aldicarb at 1.0 kg a.i./ha at planting.

Impacts of 1,3-D were also relatively persistent, considering fungivore abundances did not rebound by the end of the growing season after a single application of the product, which is consistent with other studies (Sanchez-Moreno et al., 2010; Watson and Desaeger, 2019). Timper et al. (2012) did not measure impacts on free-living nematode populations at harvest, but in the spring following 1,3-D with aldicarb application, there were no residual effects on free-living nematode abundances despite applying nematicide repeatedly in the same plots for three years. Many growers are likely to apply nematicides repeatedly on a yearly basis, so research testing the impacts of repeated application of various nematicides on PRKN management and free-living nematodes in peanut production would be of practical importance.

Individual free-living nematode genera did vary in their sensitivity to nematicide application, but differences were split almost entirely among, and not within, trophic groups. Fungivore genera were more sensitive than bacterivore and omnivore-predator genera, but there were minimal meaningful differences among genera within each trophic group. Additionally, total trophic group abundances tended to be more strongly influenced by nematicide application than individual genera, likely due to the greater abundances in the total trophic group helping to minimize variation and magnify differences. While the results from this study suggest total trophic group abundance is a more important and sensitive measure than individual genera, other studies have found that individual genera vary in their sensitivity to specific agricultural disturbances (Zhao and Neher, 2013). Most other research studies on the influence of nematicide application on the nematode community report on trophic groups or indices not individual genera (Sanchez-Moreno et al., 2010; Timper et al., 2012; Watson and Desaeger, 2019; Waldo et al., 2019), so additional research to determine if individual genera vary in their sensitivity to nematicide application should be considered.