Free-living and plant parasitic nematode communities of two forest nurseries in Slovakia

The species composition, trophic groups, abundance and vertical distribution of free-living and parasitic nematodes in the rhizosphere of spruce (Picea abies) and pine (Pinus sylvestris) were compared in two forest nurseries in Slovakia (Krasnohorska Dlha Luka, Liptovsky Hradok). More nematode species were recorded in the rhizosphere of spruce in the Krasnohorska Dlha Luka forest nursery. Communities of nematodes were represented by all trophic groups. Compared to pine, a richer nematode fauna was found under spruce in both nurseries. The average abundance of nematodes in spruce and pine nurseries was related to the depth of soil profile. In spruce, it was markedly higher to a depth of 10 cm, and then it gradually declined while in pine the differences were less extreme. The most frequent species of parasitic nematodes in both forest nurseries were Bitylenchus dubius and Helicotylenchus digonicus. The other parasitic nematodes were the ectoparasites Bitylenchus dubius, Helicotylenchus digonicus, H. varicaudatus, Rotylenchus robustus, Tylenchorhynchus cylindricus and the facultative plant parasites Basiria graminophila, Filenchus vulgaris, Filenchus polyhypnus, Psilenchus hilarulus and Tylenchus davainei.