Nematodes can result in yield loss, quality damage and export restrictions that have a serious financial impact. Eurofins Agro is an important centre of expertise in the field of nematodes and has been conducting nematode analysis since 1957. Our nematode analysis is accredited for a number of inspection studies.
Eurofins Agro offers different research packages for nematode analysis:
- Complete package, which gives an overview of all nematodes present
- Packages for analysis of specific types or groups of nematodes
- Nematode Check, a limited analysis on the presence of nematodes (horticulture)
Based on the report, and together with information on host plant suitability and the risk of damage, you can take measures such as adjusting crop rotation, choosing another field, or specific management measures.
Methods
Eurofins Agro has several methods available to reliably determine which nematodes are present in the soil and in what quantity.
DNA Analysis
Using DNA techniques, Eurofins Agro can analyse more than 25 relevant nematodes. The advantages of this method are:
- The sensitivity is higher than microscopic analysis: one individual nematode can be detected in a mixture of 10,000 other, unknown nematodes.
- Molecular analysis is always performed on all nematodes isolated from a sample, unlike in microscopic analysis, in which only a limited fraction (20%) of the total sample volume is visually assessed. The probability of detecting nematodes occurring in low numbers is therefore higher compared to microscopic analysis.
- Suppressed populations (mixing populations of the same genus in which one species occurs in lower numbers than the other species) are always detected and identified by species with DNA.
- Determination is not affected by the age or sex of the nematodes. Analysis is objective and well standardised, allowing better quality assurance.
Microscopic analysis
Eurofins' experts can determine more than 600 different species of nematodes. Microscopy is very important for the validation of DNA analysis, as well as for the determination of species for which no DNA test is available. Samples from abroad or from greenhouses may contain nematodes that do not occur in the open field and for which no DNA test has been developed. Microscopic analyses are always performed in duplicate by two different analysts.
Incubation
With the free-living nematode assay, you can request additional incubation. With this analysis, organic material from a soil sample is incubated for two weeks. Nematodes (especially Meloidogyne and Pratylenchus) that may still be present in root remnants and eggs are also included in the analysis. The analysis thus provides a complete picture of the numbers of nematodes present.
| Package | Analysis |
|---|---|
| DNA-package | Analysis of twenty relevant free-living nematodes with DNA technique at species level. These include root knot nematode, root lesion and free-living root nematode. Stem nematode and destructor nematode are also analyzed. Additional LX and/or cysts can be requested. |
| DNA + Microscopic package | Complete analysis of all nematode pests with a combination of DNA and microscopic analysis at the species level. Leaf nematodes are also included in this package. |
| Nematode Check | Quick scan for the presence of different groups of nematodes at the genus and family level. No species determination is performed so no crop-specific advice can be given. |
| Potato cyst analysis | Voluntary potato cyst nematode analysis. This is an important management measure of potato cyst nematode. The potato cyst analysis can be conducted at different intensities. Additional species determination and beet cyst nematodes can be requested. |
| Cyst analysis | Analysis of all cyst nematodes in soil, including potato, beet, pea, grass, clover and carrot cyst nematodes. |
| Stem nematode and/or white rot | Voluntary analysis on stem nematode and/or white rot. Stem nematodes (Ditylenchus dipsaci) can cause damage in flower bulbs, onion, potato, corn, beets, spinach and cereals, among others. White rot (Sclerotium cepivorum) causes problems in onion seedlings. |
| Sieve Soil Check | DNA analysis of stem nematode (Ditylenchus dipsaci) in sieve soil which is released during sorting of flower bulbs, Because the adhering soil of bulbs is examined, the research gives a good picture of a possible stem nematode contamination per batch. |
| Melo-Intensive | Meloidogyne (root knot nematodes) can cause serious quality damage and pose a threat to the marketing of starting material. The Melo-Intensive examination shows an infestation with 90% certainty. For this, sampling should be done after a good host plant and preferably staked before mid-November. |
| Nematodes in plant material, water, compost and substrate | In addition to soil testing, Eurofins offers nematode analysis in plant material, water, compost and substrate. Within these analysis packages, all relevant nematodes are microscopically analyzed and, if possible, brought to species. |
| Additional | |
|---|---|
| Incubation | Survey relevant to some nodule nematodes (Meloidogyne) and root lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus). This analysis is recommended after a late crop or in the case of crops with a low damage threshold. |
| Plant material | Analysis for nematodes present in plant material. |
| Predatory nematodes | Indicator of soil food web quality. |
| Examination* | |
|---|---|
| Longidorus and Xiphimena | Inspection examination for the cultivation of propagating material of strawberry, small fruit and prunus. |
| Stem nematode and white rot | Inspection examination for the clearance of stem nematode and white rot for the cultivation of first-year plant onions. |
| Stem nematodes in seed | Analysis of ditylenchus dipsaci in seed/ |
* Eurofins Agro is ASLN-accredited for these inspection examinations