Summary -Meloidogyne minor is a serious threat to turfgrass in north-west Europe, and has a broad host range that includes other economically important plants. The species was described only recently and little is known about its biology. This study examines the effect of temperature on hatch and motility of second-stage juveniles (J2), and records hatching from egg masses collected from golf greens in different seasons. Eggs were present throughout the year and a high percentage hatch (46-88%) was recorded when they were incubated at 20 • C. When egg masses were incubated at constant temperatures, J2 hatched between 15 and 25 • C, with limited hatch (<1%) at 10 and 30 • C. The percentage hatch was lower at 15 • C (43%) than at 20-25 • C (63-76%). J2 hatched fastest at 23 • C, with an average duration to hatching of 7 days compared to 17 days at 15 • C. The range of temperatures at which J2 was active was broader than that at which they hatched. J2 were active from 4-30 • C, with greatest activity between 15 and 25 • C. The addition of grass root extract temporarily increased J2 activity at 10-20 • C, but not at lower temperatures.

Meloidogyne minor, first reported on potatoes in the Netherlands in 2004, is an emerging nematode pest in Europe. It damages turfgrass, particularly creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) grown on sandy soils such as those of golf greens. However, little is known of the nematode's life history and pathology. In this study, the spatial and temporal distribution of M. minor on a creeping bentgrass green in Ireland was determined over a 15 month period. Cores were taken on transects across yellowing patches of grass caused by nematode damage. Second-stage juveniles (J2) were absent from the soil from November to February, when soil temperatures were below 10°C. Both galls and egg masses were present throughout the year but were more abundant in late summer and early autumn. More J2, galls and egg masses were present in the top 10 cm of soil than at a depth of 11-20 cm. The nematode population tended to decrease as distance from the centre of the yellow patches increased. The diameter of visual symptoms (yellow patches) was also recorded over the 15 months. The mean diameter of five sampled patches increased from 23Á7 cm in June 2003 to 45Á2 cm in August 2004. There were 158-193 galls per 100 cm 3 soil at the margin of the visible infested area, indicating that this could be the threshold level for visible symptoms.