POPULATION DYNAMICS OF DAGGER NEMATODE ATTACKING ALEPPO PINE TREE IN JORDAN

Abstract

The temporal distribution of an isolate of the dagger nematode attacking Aleppo
pine, Pinus halepensis grown in AL-Jubiha area in Jordan was investigated. A total
of eighteen samples were collected from rhizosphere about 30 cm deep in soil and
50 cm away from the trunk of a Pine tree showing decline and brown needles as
one sample per month starting in November 2014 until April 2016. Cobb sieving
and gravity methods were used for the nematode isolation from rhizosoil. The soil
type is clay with 51 % porosity. The monthly air temperature, precipitation, and
relative humidity were monitored and tabulated. The results showed that the
number of recovered nematodes ranged from 2 individuals /100 cm3 to 88
individuals /100cm3 of rhizosoil. The lowest number was recovered on October
whereas the highest numbers were recovered in December. The reason of decline
in numbers may be due to a raise in temperature. The highest number may be due
to favorable temperature and soil moisture. The difference of nematode in same
month in two different years may be due to the temperature and precipitations.