Nematodes that feed on corn—what to make of it all

There are more than a dozen different species of plant-parasitic nematodes that can feed on corn, and most have a wide host range that is, they are not specific to corn and can feed on many different plant species. The basic biology of these nematode species varies greatly (Table 1). Some species can complete a generation in as little as four weeks whereas other species may take an entire growing a season to complete their life cycle. Many species can exist in any soil texture, but two species are only found in soils with 70 percent or greater sand content. Most remain in the soil and feed from outside of the roots, but a few species enter the root system and feed entirely within the roots.