DIFFERENCES IN DEVELOPMENT OF SOIL NEMATODE COMMUNITIES IN SINGLE-SPECIES AND MULTI-SPECIES GRASS EXPERIMENTAL TREATMENTS

During a 3 year pot experiment, analyses of soil nematode communities at the genus level were conducted in two plant communities: a cocksfoot grass monoculture (Mo), and a mixed species grass culture (Mx). The composition of dominant nematode genera in both treatments was similar, with differences concerning only the rarer species. The density of genera, however, varied. One of the dominant genera, Pratylenchus, was markedly more numerous in Mo. Shannon diversity index (H') and maturity index of nematode fauna were higher in Mr treatment. The plant parasite index was higher in the Mo treatment. It is concluded that a floristically diverse community encourages a more mature stage of nematode succession, whereas a monoculture is subject to greater parasitization by phytophagous nematodes.