Testing in the lab
The Plant Nematology Laboratory determines the number of nematodes or nematode
eggs in soil samples submitted by
- Farmers
- Golf course managers
- Agricultural consultants
- Other labs
- MU researchers
A fee is charged for each sample analyzed
The primary lab procedure we perform is analysis of soil samples for number
of soybean cyst nematode (SCN) eggs. SCN reduces soybean yields significantly
and is primarily controlled by crop management methods such as rotation of resistant
soybean varieties with other non-host crops. The lab analysis helps producers
decide what crops to plant. Most samples come in the fall after harvest and in
the spring before planting.
We also determine the number of plant-parasitic nematodes in the samples from
golf courses or from fields where cotton, corn, certain vegetable crops, and other
crops susceptible to plant parasitic nematodes have been grown.
Plant-parasitic nematodes other than SCN are identified as vermiforms (or verms)
or by vermiform identification plus egg count for SCN.
Laboratory procedures vary depending on the analysis to be performed.
Updated 6/22/09