Stem eelworm

Symptoms Young plants wilt and die leaves and stems of older plants become soft and rotten. Larvae bore into onion bulbs, which then rot Most severe in early to midsummer. May be confused with stem eelworm and onion white rot... 

There has recently been a large increase in interest in the use of red clover and a much needed and very welcome reinstatement of the breeding programme for this legnme at IGER (now IBERS - the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences) Aberystwyth. Important objectives for the plant breeders will be increased longevity, coupled with improved resistaiKe to clover rot and stem eelworm. 

Stem eelworm (Ditylenchus dipsaci) is an important seed-bome pest of field beans. Home-saved seed should always be tested for it and the status of certified seed should be ascertained as well. 

Damage is usually caused by a blockage of the water-conducting tissues of the stem, starving the leaves of water. Wilts can persist in the soil for several years, entering plants through wounds. Commonly associated with eelworm attack. Some wilts, e.g., of China asters and peas, are host-specific, while others attack a wide range of plants. 

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