Bob Mulrooney, Extension Plant Pathologist; bobmul@udel.edu
This is not a good time to take nematode samples for root-knot nematode detection but if soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is a concern and you are planting soybeans this spring it is not too late to sample. SCN is detectable all season long as long as the ground is not frozen or flooded. Remember that snap beans are also a host of SCN and fields planted to snap beans should be checked for SCN. Lima beans are resistant to SCN. Testing most of the major baby lima bean cultivars confirmed that they are resistant to the major race or genotype of SCN that is prevalent in Delaware.
Nematode sample bags are available at all the county Extension offices as well as the information sheet which needs to accompany each sample. This info is also available online at http://ag.udel.edu/extension/pdc/. Samples do not have to be submitted in these bags but are there for your convenience. Soil samples for nematode detection should be at least 2 cups of soil placed in a Ziploc plastic bag. Do not use paper bags unless they are double-bagged with a plastic bag.