CHANGES IN POPULATION-DENSITIES OF MELOIDOGYNE SPP AND PARATRICHODORUS MINOR ON WINTER RYE COVER CROPS

Field and microplot data collected over three seasons were used to det ermine relationships between initial (Pi) and final (Pf) population de nsities of Meloidogyne spp. and Paratrichodorus minor on winter cover crops of rye (Secale cereale) in north Florida. Log-transformed Pf and Pi were linearly related for Meloidogyne arenaria race 1 and M. incog nita race 1. For data pooled across locations and seasons from sites a t which M. arenaria predominated, the relationship between Pf and Pi w as expressed by the equation log, (Pf+1) = 0.863 log, (Pi+1) - 0.26 (r (2)=0.863; P less than or equal to 0.01). This equation indicates that existing population densities of M. arenaria will be nearly maintaine d by a winter cover crop of rye, but without increasing above Pi level s. Pf of P. minor was linearly related to Pi for each site and season, but there was no consistent relationship across sites and seasons.