By Nufarm

What tools can you use to prepare your seed environment for higher yields in 2023? Current spring conditions for planting continue to provide cool soil temperature, along with soil moisture needs at or above saturation.  This is an environment that is preferred for both parasitic and beneficial soil nematodes.  Below ground, beneficial soil nematodes improve the growing environment by composting and releasing nutrients into the soil that are available for uptake by the plant. Beneficial soil nematodes also help distribute bacteria and fungi through the soil and along plant roots by carrying live and dormant microbes on their surfaces and in their digestive system. This provides a food source for growing plants. 

Parasitic nematodes in this same environment need an active plant to survive. There are two classes of parasitic nematodes, and it is important to understand how these parasitic nematodes live and behave in the soil environment. 

Endoparasitic nematodes that live inside the root and deter root growth. An example is root knot nematode.

Ectoparasitic nematodes stay outside the plant and feed on the plant root by utilizing its stylist to draw moisture and nutrients from the newly growing plant. An example of this would be a needle nematode.

In addition to the different ways that nematodes affect the plant, there are two ways that nematodes are identified pertaining to movement in the soil. 

Migratory nematodes like needle and lance nematodes move through the soil profile in search of host plants on which to survive. 

Sedentary nematodes, such as root knot and reniform nematodes, do not move within the soil profile and stay in high concentrations attacking the plant. In some field conditions there will be circular pockets of damage as the plant populations are drastically reduced by the damage from root knot and reniform nematodes.

Trunemco Nematode Management is a seed applied technology that protects that plant from both endo and ectoparasitic nematodes and, with the added ability to colonize around the root, provide protection against the behavior of both migratory and sedentary nematodes that reduce plant performance.  One key difference when you compare Trunemco with other leading nematode solutions is that in addition to providing leading levels of plant protection from parasitic nematodes, Trunemco also allows nonparasitic nematodes to provide benefits in the soil. 

Trunemco for use on corn, cotton and soybeans, should be considered to assist preparing your plant environment by protecting the plant from 14 labeled parasitic nematodes. It can provide this benefit because it is preparing the plant by priming the plants natural defenses and protecting early root growth from both endo and ectoparasitic nematodes.  Also, it provides plant protection without any herbicide interaction or damage to beneficial nematodes.