Content
The nematode on strawberries is a dangerous pest that can lead to the death of the entire bush and loss of yield. It is a small worm, difficult to distinguish by the eye. It feeds on the juices of the plant and significantly weakens it. If no action is taken, it quickly affects neighboring plantings and actively reproduces.
What does a nematode look like on strawberries with a photo
The nematode is a parasite that causes disease in strawberries. This is a roundworm from the genus Protostomes. There are several types of such pests, one of them is the strawberry leaf nematode. It is she who affects almost all varieties of strawberries, as well as many ornamental plants.
Appearance
The nematode has a thin, slender body
The length reaches from 1 to 20 mm, the color is white. Since the body is small, it is not always possible to visually detect a nematode on strawberries. The worm actively reproduces in moderately warm conditions at a temperature of 18-20 degrees.
The nematode lays eggs that have an elongated oval shape and a narrow diameter. After a few days, larvae emerge from them. They are noticeably different from adults. The larvae are mobile, actively moving along the above-ground parts of the plant.
Danger
Nematodes are found almost everywhere. The pest is especially dangerous in the middle zone, regions of the North-Western region, as well as in the North Caucasus. The nematode is voracious and very prolific. Up to 20 generations appear per season. They cause great harm to strawberries - the affected bushes may die. Even if they survive, part of the harvest will be lost.
Also, the danger of nematodes is due to the fact that the worms themselves are very small, so they are difficult to detect visually. Finally, the pest causes the mustache to shorten. Therefore, it will no longer be possible to use them for propagating strawberries.
What do strawberry bushes look like when infected with a nematode?
You can identify a nematode on strawberries by several signs:
- numerous swellings (galls) on leaves of different colors - reddish, yellowish-brown;
- loss of the layer of pubescence by the petioles;
- the leaves become hard, the surface wrinkles, turns dark green;
- the trunk dies;
- the mustache is shortened;
- sockets are deformed;
- the fruits are small, not typical for this variety;
- the apical buds fade;
- Over time, the bush dies.
Nematodes parasitize not only the leaves and stems, but also the roots of strawberries. They feed on juices, quickly depleting the plant. As a result, the bush becomes dwarf and dies, and the worms move to neighboring plantings.
Deformed berries due to nematode
Affected bushes become weak, first turn pale, then turn yellow and finally turn black.At the same time, it is often impossible to determine whether a nematode is visible with the naked eye. To reliably determine the presence of a pest, you can perform the following tests:
- Dig up the affected strawberry bush and carefully examine the roots. If there are white growths on them, this clearly indicates a nematode attack.
- Grind the above-ground parts of the plant (foliage, flowers, shoots) and lower them into water. After 10 hours, you can look into the lens and see microscopic white worms.
Causes of strawberry infection
Nematodes on strawberries can appear in any growing region. This is a dangerous pest, from which it is impossible to completely protect yourself. It is worth remembering several factors that provoke the development of worms:
- moderately warm and humid weather (frequent rain);
- excessive watering;
- too dense plantings;
- lack of ventilation (in the case of growing strawberries in a greenhouse or greenhouse).
In most cases, it is possible to influence the appearance of a pest on strawberries. Particular attention is paid to planting in those seasons when the weather is unfavorable (lots of rain).
How to get rid of nematodes on strawberries
You can treat strawberries on which a nematode has settled in different ways. Many gardeners suggest using folk remedies, but they are not effective in all cases. To completely destroy the worms, it is necessary to use special preparations. It is advisable to use agrotechnical techniques - they are used for prevention.
Controlling nematodes on strawberries with chemical means
It is advisable to use chemicals before fruit appears. It is not recommended to do this during fruiting, unless absolutely necessary.It is important to observe the waiting period - the minimum number of days from the last treatment to harvest.
Not all drugs are suitable for exterminating worms. Among the most effective means are the following:
- “Heterophos” is a toxic compound that must be handled very carefully. Fruits can be collected at least 45 days after the last spraying.
- “Phosfamide” is an effective solution, which is treated several times with an interval of 4-5 days.
- "Mercaptophos" - acts similarly to "Phosfamide", can be used instead.
- “Ruskamin”, “Lindane” are products that give good results only in the fight against adult nematodes. However, the eggs do not die after treatment - over time, new larvae will hatch from them.
Therefore, it is necessary to carefully follow the dosage indicated in the instructions. When spraying, be sure to use a mask, gloves and other personal protective equipment.
Treatment is carried out late in the evening, and the weather should be dry and windless.
Fighting nematodes on strawberries with folk remedies
Folk remedies are used at the first detection of signs of invasion. They show their effectiveness if used regularly. Basically, summer residents recommend preparing the following solutions, infusions or decoctions:
- Grind marigold flowers. Weigh 1 kg and pour 1 liter of water. Let stand for two days in a dark and cool place, strain and bring the volume to 10 liters.
- Take 1 kg of onion peel and leave in 10 liters of water for 24 hours. Strawberries are processed weekly.
- Another proven recipe is calendula infusion (200 g of dried flowers per 5 liters of water at room temperature). You need to insist for 24 hours in a warm room.
To do this, the affected strawberry bushes are dug up and placed in hot water at a temperature of +47-50 degrees for 10-15 minutes. Then they take it out and plant it back.
Agrotechnical measures to combat nematodes
To combat stem nematode on strawberries, agrotechnical methods are also used:
- For planting, you should buy only healthy seedlings from trusted suppliers. It is necessary to focus on the company’s reputation and customer reviews.
- First of all, it is necessary to dig up and destroy all plants affected by the nematode. The pest spreads quickly, so it is better to sacrifice 1-2 bushes than the entire garden bed.
- Do not cultivate strawberries in beds where infestation has previously occurred. It is necessary to water the soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and wait at least a year. This area needs to be carefully dug up in the fall.
- At the end of the season, cut off the leaves and flower stalks and take them as far away as possible. Pests overwinter in the above-ground parts of the plant, most often in the tissues of young shoots.
- Growing varieties resistant to nematodes, for example, Slavutich and others.
Prevention
It will not be possible to completely eliminate the appearance of worms on the site, but it is possible to prevent their invasion. To do this, use standard preventive measures:
- Plantings should not be too thick - depending on the variety, bushes are planted at a distance of 20 or 30 cm.
- Watering is done regularly, but moderately. The surface layer of soil should remain only slightly moist.
- Plant strawberries in the area where legumes, carrots, garlic, pumpkin, mustard or other green manures had previously grown for several years.
- Plant a flower border of plants such as nasturtium, calendula and marigold next to the bed. They release phytoncides into the soil, which have a detrimental effect on the nematode.
Bushes should be periodically inspected to monitor the appearance of the first signs of damage.
Mistakes when fighting strawberry nematode
It is possible to destroy the nematode to save strawberries. But beginners and even experienced gardeners often make mistakes that prevent them from quickly dealing with the pest. The most common are:
- Summer residents sometimes immediately treat bushes with chemicals. In fact, this is a last resort measure that should only be used occasionally.
- The use of folk remedies does not always give the desired result. If 2-3 treatments turned out to be ineffective, you need to immediately spray the plantings with insecticides.
- Often gardeners choose the wrong place to plant. The area should be well lit and dry. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately exclude lowlands in which water stagnates after rains and heavy watering.
- Another common mistake is using the drug for several seasons. In fact, the nematode has time to form immunity, so you need to alternate one insecticide with another. The same applies to folk remedies against worms.
Conclusion
Nematodes on strawberries appear especially often in rainy, cloudy weather. Therefore, when growing, special attention should be paid to maintaining the watering norm and ventilating the greenhouse. If possible, it is better to choose strawberry varieties that are resistant to the pest.
