Abstract

The control of L. elongatus and its effect on strawberry growth and yield were studied using chemicals applied to the soil before planting. In a first trial plant growth was not significantly affected until the third year when vegetative growth was increased in plots previously treated with oxamyl, benomyl or dazomet. Growth was correlated with the degree of control of L. elongatus. In a second trial, with other chemicals, quintozene and quintozene + aldicarb increased top growth and fruit yields in the third and fourth years more than aldicarb alone. In a pot test aldicarb decreased the numbers of L. elongatus and increased top growth; quintozene also decreased L. elongatus but was phytotoxic. Most strawberry plantations in eastern Scotland were infested with L. elongatus, but most nematode populations were small and unlikely to cause severe damage.