Nematodes

Diagnosis and detection procedures

Using special techniques, the nematodes are isolated from the soil, substrate, plant or plant parts. The identification is usually based on morphological characteristics. For more difficult cases we use molecular identification techniques (applicable to some root knot nematodes and cyst nematodes).

When cysts are found, the contents of the cysts are counted (the number of eggs and juveniles in the cysts). As an extra analysis, the viability can also be determined (i.e. whether the eggs and juveniles in the cyst are still alive). The following film ("Identification of potato cyst nematodes") illustrates how cysts are analysed (available in a Dutch (Identificatie van aardappelcystenaaltjes), French (Détection des nématodes à kystes) and German (Identifizierung von Kartoffelnematoden) version).