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Abstract
Since the outbreak of potato cyst nematode Globodera pallida at Pukekohe in 1972 there has been discussion over the efficiency of the method used by field officers of the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to detect infestations. This paper compares the relative merits of the 2 principal methods for detection of potato cyst nematode (PCN). These are: taking soil samples before a host crop is grown to examine the soil for presence of dormant eggfilled cysts; and examination of live potato plant roots for the presence of developing PCN females. Examination of live potato roots is shown to be 80–120 times more efficient in detecting and locating foci of infection than is soil sampling.