Aphelenchus avenae, a Potential Biological Control Agent for Root Rot Fungi. G. L. Barnes, Department of Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 74078. C. C. Russell, and W. D. Foster, Department of Plant Pathology, and R. W. McNew, Department of Statistics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 74078. Plant Dis. 65:423-424. Copyright 1981 American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-65-423.

Various numbers of Aphelenchus avenae, a mycophagous nematode, were added to pots of soil artificially infested with virulent isolates of Rhizoctonia solani or Fusarium solani. Control of these root rot fungi was determined by bioassay with alfalfa seedlings transplanted to the pots after a 3-wk fungus-nematode interaction period. Concentrations of 250,000 to 1 million nematodes per 15.2-cm (6-in.) standard clay pot of fungus-infested soil consistently produced healthy, dark green plants. Plants that survived in pots treated only with a fungus were stunted and chlorotic and had necrotic roots.