COVER CROPS RESISTANT TO ROOT-LESION NEMATODES IN RASPBERRY

Cover crops used in red raspberry plantings (Rubus idaeus L.) are ofte n good hosts of the root-lesion nematode (Pratylenchus penetrans Filip jev & Sch. Stekoven), a major soilborne pathogen of raspberry. The eff ects of two susceptible cover crops, white clover (Trifolium repens L. ) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), planted in between rows, on nematod e density and growth of raspberry plants were compared to those of thr ee cover crops resistant to the nematode: redtop (Agrostis alba L.), c reeping red fescue (Festuca rubra L.), and 'Saia' oat (Avena sativa L. ), Nematode multiplication in raspberry roots and in cover crop roots was assessed over 4 years, Growth and vigor of plants were estimated a t the end of the experiment by counting primocanes and determining hei ght and biomass. Nematode multiplication was suppressed in roots of 'S aia' oat, fescue, and redtop compared to barley or white clover. Nemat ode density in roots and rhizosphere soil of raspberry was not affecte d by the choice of cover crops. Nematode suppression in the three resi stant cover crops did not translate into increased vigor of raspberry plants.