Effect of Belonolaimus longicaudatus, Dolichodorus heterocephalus, and Pratylenchus scribneri on Growth of Spearmint, Mentha spicata, in Florida

Severely stunted beds of spearmint, Mentha spicata L., in central Florida were found to be heavily infested with Belonolaimus longicaudatus Rau, Dolichodorus heterocephalus Cobb, and Pratylenchus scribneri Steiner in Sherbakoff and Stanley. When transferred to the greenhouse, all three species reproduced readily on M. spicata. Separate inoculations of 500 and 2500 of each of the three nematode species in 15-cm pots resulted in stunting, chlorosis, and significantly reduced clipping weights of M. spicata within 4-5 months for all three nematode species. Root systems were also severely injured and significantly reduced in weight by all three nematode species.