Green World

AN INDUSTRYWIDE PUBLICATION OF THE NEW JERSEY TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION

Volume 10, No. 1

Winter 1979-80

Questions and Answers 
about Nematode Parasites 

of Turfgrasses

Ronald F. Myers 

Professor

Nematode Detection Service 

Agricultural Experiment Station 

Rutgers University

Q: What are nematodes?
A: Nematodes are minute round- 
worms, not closely associated with 
other forms of animal life found in 
turf.
Q: How big are nematodes?
A: Plant parasitic nematodes are very 
small and generally range from about 
1/64 to 1/8 inch in length, but are 
usually very thin and cannot generally 
be seen without magnification.
Q: How many different kinds of 
nematodes are there in turf?
A: There are many kinds of 
nematodes that feed on bacteria, and 
others that feed on fungi. Some 
nematodes in turf are predatory, at­
tacking small soil-borne animals in­
cluding other nematodes. In addition, 
there are many common species of 
plant-parasitic nematodes present in 
the turf. The common names of a few 
of these are stunt, lance, spiral, ring, 
lesion, stubby root, and pin 
nematodes. Within the stunt nematode 
category are at least three species that 
attack turf grasses.
Q: How do plant parasitic nematodes 
feed on turf?
A: Plant parasitic nematodes feed by 
means of a hollow stylet (spear). 
Through this hypodermic-like spear, 
they suck the pre-digested cell contents 
from the roots of plants. Root tips, 
root hairs, epidermis, or inner tissues 
serve as sites of feeding for various 
types of nematodes. Some nematodes 
attack stems and seed heads.
Q: How did my soil become infested?

A: The nematodes were in the soil 
prior to even planting the turf in most 
cases. Populations built up due to 
either an environmental change; a 
change in the susceptibility of the grass 
species; or possibly the nematodes, 
through natural selection, became 
more pathogenic.
Q: How do nematodes cause damage?
A: Nematodes cause damage in 
several ways. They directly destroy 
cells and when enough cells are 
destroyed, the ability of the plant to 
remove water and nutrients from the 
soil is lowered. Further root growth 
may be prevented. Next, nematodes 
may produce infection courts in plant 
roots either by mass cell destruction or 
by forcing their bodies through and 
between cells, thus creating tunnels 
through which other organisms can 
penetrate the plant’s natural defenses. 
Finally, some nematodes transmit 
viruses and carry fungi and bacteria 
into wounded roots.
Q: What kind of symptoms are ob­
served on turf that has a nematode 
problem?
A: The symptoms are those related to 
deficiencies in minerals and water. 
Symptoms such as lighter color, 
drought susceptibility, scanty growth, 
lack of vigor, and all the other com­
mon complaints have been attributed 
to nematodes.
Q: What do the turf roots look like?
A: Root growth is shallow and sparse. 
There is a lack of feeder roots and 
there may be necrotic lesions on the 
roots. Similarly, root tips may be 
stunted, malformed, or even swollen. 
Often roots have rot associated with 
them and the outer layers may slough 
off.

Female Plant-

Parasite Nematode

Diagrammatic sketch of a typical 
female plant-parasite nematode 
showing the hypodermic-like stylet and 
the pumping bulb used to feed upon 
the roots of turfgrasses.

Effect of Nematodes
on Bentgrass Culture

Stunt nematodes reduced growth and 
vigor of the bentgrass culture on the 
left as compared with the bentgrass 
culture on the right which was free of 
nematodes.
Q: How can I tell if nematodes are 
damaging my turf?
A: You know your turf best and 

(Continued on page 2)

Comments and Opinions
Will the Real Ralph Engel Stand?

“Federal Regulations and Their Effect on the Chemical Specialties In­
dustry” were studied in a survey of CSMA member firms conducted by the 
Center for the Study of American Business. Fourteen percent of the firms 
responding feel that EPA rules, present or future, could cause them to shut down 
and nine percent feel the rules might cause them to sell their businesses. CSMA 
President Ralph Engel termed the findings “astounding” and said they have 
“major implications for the industry and the country as a whole. When 
regulations — supposedly promulgated for the good of the nation — seriously 
damage a segment of the nation’s business, then it’s time to take a second look.” 
Is someone playing a joke on Ralphie? Maybe I am moonlighting — maybe this 
explains a late issue of Green World. I fear some of the ad libs this will draw.

The other R.E.

The New Year’s Prayer of the Golf 

Course Superintendent —
Enough Snow and Winter to 

End the Golfing Season

Tsk! Tsk! Golf course superintendents! Use of turf is the fabric of our 
business. In your defense, winter play is often very destructive. It probably adds 
more to costs than play during the growing season. So why not have a higher 
greens fee or charge for winter membership? Of course, it is much easier fo me to 
say this than it is for you.

R.E.E.

SUSTAINING MEMBERS

1979-February 1980 

A-L Services 
Barton Co., Lewis W.
Chevron Chemical Cd.
Cleary Corp., W. A.
Country Greenery, Inc., The 
DeFreitas & Assoc., Kelly 
Double Eagle Golf Products 
Garfield-Williamson, Inc.
Green Hill Turf Supply 
Hummer Turfgrass Systems 
Jennings Equipment Co.
Leon’s Sod Farm 
Limestone Products Corp.
Lofts Pedigreed Seed, Inc. 
MacDonald, Inc., Wilfred 
Mercer Sod, Inc.
Metro Milorganite, Inc.
Pine Island Turf Nursery 
Playboy Resort & CC 
Rockland Chemical Co.
Royal Lawns of N.J., Inc.
Royal Manor Enterprises 
Seacoast Laboratories 
Storr Tractor Co.
Techniturf, Inc.
Terre Co., The
Twin River Community Trust
Vaughan Jacklin Corp.

Nematodes
(Continued from page 1)

should be able to immediately drop soil 
compaction, poor fertilization, lack of 
water, chemical injury, and other 
problems of this nature as the cause of 
the damage. Second, consider the 
symptoms of the common turf diseases 
associated with fungi, bacteria, and 
insects and eliminate them. Finally, if 
the problem is persistent or recurring, 
root and top growth is poor, and it 
defies other explanations, then send 
soil samples to the Nematode 
Detection Service. Soil will be 
examined for plant parasitic 
nematodes, and the number of each 
kind will be counted. An answer will 
then be sent to you as to whether a 
nematode problem exists. In addition, 
the recommended treatment will 
usually be provided.
Q: Does the presence of plant parasitic 
nematodes always indicate the need for 
control?
A: No. Plant parasitic nematodes, 
when present in low numbers, usually 
do not cause sufficient damage to 
justify the cost of the control measure.

Q: Are there optimum times for 
collecting samples for sending to the 
Nematode Detection lab?
A: Yes. Generally during the active 
growing season, nematodes can be 
collected from soil or turf. Under 
drought conditions nematodes are 
more difficult to find and soil tem­
perature should be a minimum of 40° 
F.
Q: Can nematodes be eradicated from 
soil by chemical treatment?
A. In most cases, no. It is difficult to 
get a 100 percent kill in soil because 
some nematodes can be found down 
deep in the soil or protected within 
roots where not all chemicals 
penetrate. Those not killed rapidly 
reproduce and, in approximately a 
year, may build up to a potential 
threat.
Q: Should soil always be treated for 
plant parasitic nematodes?
A. Turf should not be treated for 
plant parasitic nematodes unless 
populations are actually high enough 
and are damaging the grass. The cost 
of chemical control is high and there is 
no sense wasting money if no

nematode problem exists.
Q: What are the chemicals that can be 
used for treating nematodes on turf?
A: Presently only Nemacur and 
Dasanit are licensed for application on 
commercial turf. Neither one can be 
used on lawns or near residences. 
Nemacur is perhaps slightly more 
nematicidal than Dasanit but Dasanit 
costs less. Control is seldom effective 
for periods of over one-year duration 
with both compounds.
Q: How are these chemicals best 
applied?
A. Personally, I prefer to spread 
granules with a drop-spreader rather 
than use a spray concentrate. The 
reason is because drift is less of a 
hazard and since these compounds 
have a high mammalian toxicity, 
extreme care must be taken in their 
application.
Q: What should the soil conditions be 
when applying these materials?
A: Soil water should be at field 
conditions. That is the upper layers of 
soil where the roots predominate 
should be drained by gravity. A wait of 
several days may be necessary after a

Steiniger Receives N.J. 

Turfgrass Hall of Fame Award

N.J.T.A. President Fred Eden (left) and Dr. John Gerwig (right), director of the 
New Jersey Agricultural Extension Service, congratulate Eberhard Steiniger of 
Pine Valley Golf Club upon his acceptance of the New Jersey Turfgrass Hall of 
Fame Award.

Eberhard Steiniger is the recipient of 
the 1979 New Jersey Turfgrass Hall of 
Fame Award. Eberhard is widely 
known for his many years as golf 
course superintendent in making Pine 
Valley Golf Club of Clementon, N. J., 
a most enjoyable landscape and mecca 
of golf. Eb started work on the course 
as a young man when the golf course 
was young and sand was everywhere. 
He attended the first turf course at 
Rutgers and many turf conferences of 
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the 
national golf course superintendents. 
Eb has always been a turf research 
enthusiast. He helped Dr. Evaul plant 
some of the earlier turf plots at Rutgers 
University, and he served on the New 
Jersey Turfgrass Advisory Committee 
that preceded the New Jersey Turfgrass 
Association.

Nematodes 

(continued from page 2) 

rain. If there is excess water in the soil 
when the compounds are watered in 
with one-half inch or more irrigation, 
the active ingredient will not deeply 
penetrate the soil. What will happen is 
that the nematodes will not be killed in 
high numbers. One indication of a bad 
application is when earthworms are 
killed on the surface of the ground. 
This can create other problems with 
additional nontarget organisms. For 
instance, birds may devour these 
earthworms and die. If birds are killed, 
state and federal regulations have been 
violated, the nematicide treatment was

Eb made some of the earliest zoysia 
and bermudagrass plantings in New 
Jersey and he can still show original 
plots of these grasses. He has made 
many trial plantings on his practice 
fairway and he is always generous in 
allowing research workers of the public 
or private sectors to use this site.

Eb was the official representative of 
the Golf Course Superintendents of 
America at the third International 
Turfgrass Conference in his native 
Germany in 1977.

Eberhard Steiniger is one of the men 
who have made turf growing a pleasure 
and a highly respected profession. Eb, 
the New Jersey Turfgrass Association, 
officers, and executive board members 
are most appreciative of what you have 
done. And all the fun you have given 
us has made the hard work of growing 
turf easier. Congratulations!

a failure, and complaints may be 
received from persons who are using 
your facilities.
Q: What compounds can be used by 
the homeowner?
A: There are no registered nematicides 
for use on home lawns by 
nonregistered applicators. Sarolex, a 
diazinon-containing nematicide, can be 
used on home lawns by a registered 
applicator. Unfortunately, the supply 
of Sarolex in New Jersey is either 
limited or nonexistent at this time. 
Ciba-Geigy has sub-registered Sarolex 
to firms in Florida and Texas, but it is 
not supplied to New Jersey.

Garfield Williamson
WHOLESALERS & DISTRIBUTORS

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201-435-3500

Green World is published three times a 
year by the New Jersey Turfgrass 
Association, P.O. Box 231, New 
Brunswick, N.J. 08903. Ralph Engel, 
consulting editor; Judy Chi, managing 
editor. Please address inquiries con­
cerning advertising to Paul Sortoretto, 
advertising director, 1049 Somerset 
St., Somerset, N.J. 08873. Phone 201- 
247-8000.

Features

KENTUCKY BLUEGRASSES:

TURF TYPE PERENNIAL RYEGRASSES:

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Write or call for further information and current prices

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LOFTS

*U.S. Plant Patent #3186. Dwarf Variety
**Protection applied for under the U.S. Plant Variety Protection Act

ABSTRACT

Effects and Treatments 

of Petroleum Spills

on Bermudagrass Turf 
D. Johns and J. B. Beard

AgronJ. 71:945-947.

A field study was conducted in Texas 
on “Tifgreen” bermudagrass 
(Cynodon L. spp.) to determine the 
injury symptoms and subsequent 
recovery rates from petroleum spill 
damage. Five petroleum products 
commonly used in turfgrass main­
tenance equipment were applied as 
spill treatments to the turf growing on 
Lufkin fine sandy loam. Injury 
symptoms of the turf were documented

following the three replicate spray 
applications of gasoline, motor oil, 
hydraulic fluid, and brake fluid, and 
following direct spreading of grease 
over 1 m2 plots. Calcined clay fines, 
activated charcoal, and detergent were 
evaluated as potential corrective 
treatments. Each corrective treatment 
was applied within 20 minutes of each 
spill in three replications.

The injury symptoms varied among 
the petroleum spill treatments. 
Detergent proved effective in en­
hancing bermudagrass recovery (three 
to four weeks) from motor oil, 
hydraulic fluid, and brake fluid 
damage. None of the corrective 
treatments were effective on either the 
gasoline or grease-damaged turf. The 
bermudagrass recovered rapidly (three 
to four weeks) from gasoline spills 
without corrective procedures. More 
than ten weeks were required for 
recovery from grease spills.

KNOCK OUT

Crabgrass
Betasan

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ROCKLAND has a complete line of granular insecticides, herbicides and 
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ROCKLAND Fertilizers contain combinations of IBDU, NITROFORM and new 
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All products are formulated with the highest quality ingredients and carriers.

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Ask your 
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or write

PASSAIC AVE., WEST CALDWELL, N.J. 07006

We are pleased to announce the opening of our new warehouse 
and distribution center in Paterson, New Jersey, adjacent to Route 
80.

OFFICERS OF THE 

N.J.T.A.

Fred M. Eden 

President 

Paul DesChamps 
Vice President 
Ralph Engel 
Secretary 

William Ritchie 

Treasurer 

Dr. Henry Indyk 
Expo Chairman 
Jack Wittpenn 
Past President

EXECUTIVE BOARD

Clifford Belden 
Dennis DeSanctis 
Joseph DeSantis
Samuel Horst 
Edgar Krause 
Samuel Leon 
Al Lombardi 
John Van Brunt 

John Zajac

HEADQUARTERS

FOR ALL YOUR GROWING NEEDS

HAS NOW GROWN INTO NEW

& LARGER QUARTERS

for - Bentgrass -

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- Ryegrass - 

Fertiliser
Pesticides
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The 

206 DELAWANNA AVE.

P.O. BOX 1014 

CLIFTON, N.J. 07014