Stem and Bulb Eelworm Flashcards
Stem and Bulb Eelworm - symptoms
Wide range of hosts inc. Hyacinthoides spp. Galanthus spp. Tulipa spp Pisum sativum and Allium cepa.
Affected bulbs may not grow at all or produce stunted leaves and flowers.
In large plantings more and more bulbs are affected each year.
Affected onion bulbs rarely mature, tend to split and rot.Leaves are dull, swollen and soft (bloat)
Flowers such as Stocks are affected, leaves become narrower and narrower as they go up stem and stems swell and may split.
Lifecycle of Bulb and Stem Eelworm
Incomplete lifecycle
Eelworms lay microscopic eggs in soil or in affected plants.
Adult and young Eelworms move by swimming in the soil water, become dormant in dry soil (for many years).
Attracted by exudates given off by roots of host plants.
Active eelworms enter via wounds, lenticels and stomata.
Once inside they feed in sap and move within damaged cells.
Females lay large number of eggs inside plant.
When affected plant dies Eelworm move back into ground.
Can be vectors for viruses.
