A Bioassay Sampling Plan for Meloidogyne incognita. R. McSorley, Assistant Nematologist, University of Florida, Agricultural Research and Education Center, Homestead 33031. J. L. Parrado, Laboratory Technician, University of Florida, Agricultural Research and Education Center, Homestead 33031. Plant Dis. 67:182-184. Accepted for publication 23 June 1982. Copyright 1983 American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-67-182.

Two hundred okra bioassay samples for Meloidogyne incognita from each of two large fields were used to simulate sampling plans consisting of various numbers of composited samples per field, with each composite sample representing soil from 20 different field locations. In fields of 2.3 and 6.1 ha, 3–4 composite samples were needed to achieve a standard error to mean ratio of 25% or less in the number of galls per plant; five composite samples were needed to obtain a standard error to mean ratio of 20%. In smaller fields of 1.2 ha, two and three composite samples were needed to achieve standard error to mean ratios of 25 and 20%, respectively. Instead of composite samples, use of 20 samples, each from a different location, resulted in a standard error to mean ratio of 49.6%.