Zane Grabau

0000-0001-6642-0903

Soybean Cyst Nematode, Heterodera glycines (Ichinohe, 1952) (Chromadorea: Rhabdita: Heteroderidae)

Holly Andres and Zane J. Grabau

The nematode Heterodera glycines, known as soybean cyst nematode (SCN), is the most economically damaging pest of soybean crops in the United States and around the world. Members of the Heteroderidae family belong in the order Tylenchida; most are plant parasitic while some are insect parasites. They are obligate parasites that attack different species of crops and weeds. Heteroderidae are divided into two groups: cyst and cystoid based on morphological alterations in their skin. The cyst group are unique in that the female skin changes, transforming into a hardened cyst that protects her eggs. Unlike many plant parasites, there may be little to no aboveground evidence of an infestation with H. glycines. They are extremely damaging to the agricultural economy and impossible to eradicate once established, but with proper management, it is possible to minimize H. glycines populations and maximize yield.

Management of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes in Florida Cotton Production

Zane J. Grabau

A UF/IFAS numbered Management for Commercial audience(s). Published by Integrated Pest Management

Management of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes in Florida Field Corn Production

Zane J. Grabau and Christopher Vann

A UF/IFAS numbered Management for Commercial audience(s). Published by Integrated Pest Management

Nematode Management in Sweetpotatoes (including Boniatos)

Z. J. Grabau and J. W. Noling

The primary intended audience of this publication is agricultural professionals involved in commercial sweet potato production directly or through advising roles (Extension agents, producers, crop consultants, academics, etc.). The purpose is to guide professionals in improving nematode management in sweet potato production and to give a concise but relatively comprehensive summary of relevant information to understand and manage nematodes in this crop in Florida.

Cover Crops for Managing Root-Knot Nematodes

Harsimran K. Gill, Zane J. Grabau, and Robert McSorley

Cover crops are grown between cash crop cycles or incorporated with cash crops to improve soil fertility and struc­ture, decrease soil erosion, and suppress weeds, insects, nematodes, and other plant pathogens. Cover crop residues can be incorporated as “green manure” to increase soil fertility for the next crop. Cover crops also help to enhance many beneficial organisms and may contribute to carbon sequestration. They help curtail the spread of nematodes because nematodes cannot migrate to another field if a cover crop is not a host to them. Instead, some of them may starve, which helps to manage their population. Fallow soil also helps keep nematode populations lower, but it may lead to erosion and other problems. Many different types of cover crops are adapted for cultivation in the southern United States, including cowpea, sorghum-sudangrass, sunn hemp, marigolds, jointvetch, sesame, grasses, rye, wheat, oats, crimson clover, vetch, lupine, and, of late, legumes.

Nematode Management in Organic Agriculture

Romy Krueger, Robert McSorley, and Zane J. Grabau

The objectives of this publication are to provide information on plant-parasitic nematodes causing damage in organic agriculture and to introduce methods for their management. The intended audience is agricultural professionals and anyone producing agricultural products organically.

Management of Nematodes and Soil Fertility with Sunn Hemp Cover Crop

K. -H. Wang, R. McSorley, and Z.J. Grabau

Sunn hemp, Crotalaria juncea L. is a rapidly growing crop used for fiber production in India and Pakistan. It is popular as a green manure in many tropical and subtropical areas in the world, and is also valued because it suppresses weeds, slows soil erosion, and reduces root-knot nematode populations. Recently, as cultivars adapted for seed production in the southeastern United States have been introduced, there is a growing interest in rotating sunn hemp with agronomic crops in the southern United States and in using sunn hemp as a summer cover crop in Florida and other southeastern states. This publication informs agricultural professionals about the impacts of sunn hemp cover cropping on soil fertility and plant-parasitic nematodes.

Management of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes in Florida Soybean Production

Zane J. Grabau

A UF/IFAS numbered Management for Commercial audience(s). Published by Integrated Pest Management

Nematode Management in Cole Crops

Z. J. Grabau and J. W. Noling

Designed for agricultural professionals, this guide provides insights into managing nematode-induced yield loss in Florida’s cole crops. It includes symptoms identification, diagnostic sample submission, and effective management practices.

Guava Root-Knot Nematode or Pacara Earpod Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne enterolobii (Yang and Eisenback, 1983) (Nematoda: Chromadorea: Rhabditida: Tylenchina: Tylenchomorpha: Tylenchoidea: Meloidogynidae)

Chang Liu, Zane. J. Grabau, and Johan Desaeger

The Featured Creatures collection provides in-depth profiles of insects, nematodes, arachnids and other organisms relevant to Florida. These profiles are intended for the use of interested laypersons with some knowledge of biology as well as academic audiences.

Peanut Production Guide: Management and Cultural Practices for Peanuts

S. S. Sidhu, D. L. Wright, B. Tillman, N. Dufault, I. M. Small, I. L. Esquivel, Z. Grabau, H. Singh, E. Matcham, E. A. Borgato, J. Capasso, S. Kumar, and E. Carter

This publication discusses the current management and cultural practices for peanut production. This article is intended to share the latest information about peanut production and management with farmers, crop consultants, and Extension agents. Written by S. S. Sidhu, D. L. Wright, B. Tillman, N. Dufault, I. M. Small, I. L. Esquivel, Z. Grabau, H. Singh, E. Matcham, E. A. Borgato, J. Capasso, S. Kumar, and E. Carter, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agronomy, January 2026.

Management of Nematodes with Cowpea Cover Crops

K. -H. Wang, R. McSorley, Z.J. Grabau, and E. Rios

Cover crops are grown between cash crop cycles, or intercropped with cash crops to cover the ground, such as in vegetable fields, orchards, groves, and agricultural sites. If used appropriately, cover crops can improve soil structure and fertility, decrease soil erosion, provide foliage and animal feed, and suppress crop pests such as weeds, insects, nematodes, and other plant pathogens. Residues from cover crops can be incorporated as green manure to supply nutrients and improve fertility for the next crop. Using cover crops can increase on-farm crop diversity, may enhance many beneficial organisms, and possibly even contribute to carbon sequestration. One good example of a summer cover crop is cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp, due to its fast establishment, abiotic and biotic stress tolerance, and biomass production. This publication is intended to guide agricultural professionals in the use of cowpea cover crops for managing plant-parasitic nematodes.

Fumigant and Nonfumigant Nematicides Labeled for Agronomic Crops in Florida

Zane Grabau

A UF/IFAS numbered publication for Commercial audience(s). Published by Integrated Pest Management

How to Obtain an Aldicarb Application Permit for Florida Cotton or Peanut

Zane J. Grabau, Ethan Carter, Libbie Johnson, Jay Ferrell, Dale Dubberly, and Tamara James

This publication is intended to guide growers through the process of applying for a free permit to use aldicarb, an insecticide/nematicide subject to particular restrictions because of its highly toxic nature and concerns about groundwater contamination when it is improperly applied. Aldicarb is currently labeled only for cotton and peanut in Florida. It is a restricted-use pesticide; thus applicators must have a current and valid private or commercial Florida pesticide applicator’s license with a row crop category designation and must obtain an aldicarb permit from Florida’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services before applying this product in Florida. This publication provides a guide to the permit application process for aldicarb.

Management of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes in Florida Peanut Production

Zane J. Grabau and Donald W. Dickson

A UF/IFAS numbered publication for Commercial audience(s). Published by Integrated Pest Management

Manejo de nematodos en cultivos de col

Z. J. Grabau, J. W. Noling, and R. Sandoval-Ruiz

Los nematodos fitoparásitos son gusanos redondos microscópicos que se alimentan de tejido vegetal. La mayoría de los nematodos parásitos de plantas viven en el suelo y atacan las raíces de las plantas. Esto puede reducir el rendimiento al reducir la función de las raíces y, en consecuencia, el crecimiento de las plantas. Los cultivos de col son plantas seleccionadas de la familia Brassicaceae cuyas hojas o brotes se cosechan. Incluyen repollo, brócoli, coles de Bruselas, coliflor, berza y ??otros. Muchos géneros y especies diferentes de nematodos causan daños en la producción de cultivos de coles en Florida. En muchos casos, una comunidad mixta de nematodos fitoparásitos está presente en un campo, en lugar de una sola especie.

Nematode Management in Potatoes (Irish or White)

Z. J. Grabau and J. W. Noling

A UF/IFAS numbered peer reviewed Management for Commercial audience(s). in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Integrated Pest Management

Nematode Management Using Sorghum and Its Relatives

K. Dover, K. -H. Wang, Z. J. Grabau, and R. McSorley

Sorghum and sorghum-sudangrass are often used in crop rotation systems in Florida. They produce a source of forage or silage for animal feed, and many cultivars are effective in reducing population levels of root-knot nematodes, which are key nematode pests in Florida as well as many other parts of the world. This article is intended to guide agricultural professionals in making decisions about producing sorghum and its relatives for nematode management.

Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) for Nematode Management

R. Krueger, K. E. Dover, R. McSorley, K. -H. Wang

Soil Organic Matter, Green Manures, and Cover Crops for Nematode Management

W. T. Crow and R. A. Dunn