Entomopathogenic nematodes: Amending soils to increase biological control of insect pests EPN communities in the Bartow pH trial were characterized by qPCR in February, Two years after pH was reduced from 7 to 6 or lower by application of elemental sulfur. The composition of EPN communities in untreated and treated plots was similar to that reported in Feb and March 2013. Numbers of S. diaprepesi were nearly threefold higher (NS) and dominated the EPN community (P=0.001; Sd/total EPNs) in sulfur amended compared to non-amended plots. Numbers of H. indica (P=0.001) were sevenfold higher in the non-amended plots. The effects of sulfur were likely independent of EPN infestation by Paenibacillus sp. because the numbers of bacterial spores per plot did not differ between treatments. Although the number of spores per nematode in untreated plots was half that in the sulfur amended plots, the difference was not significant. Effects of EPNs in those plots on sentinel weevils will be evaluated in May. We repeated laboratory assays (reported 12/13) of EPN survival at different water potentials and pH levels. Use of field soil from Bartow experiment produced results consistent with those using soil from the APS experiment. Moisture and pH did not interact for any EPN species. S. diaprepesi and H. zealandica persisted better in dry soil, whereas soil moisture had no significant effect on H. indica or Steinernema sp. in one trial, but saturated soil favored survival of Steinernema sp. in a second trial. Based on the effects of soil moisture and pH on Florida EPN species tested individually, these physical properties appear to be variables that are manageable in orchards in ways that may enhance conservation biological control. We initiated experiments to test whether EPN community structure can be engineered by managing these properties. Mixtures of Sd, Sx, Hi, and Hz were incubated in soil with factorial treatments of low and high pH and low and high water potential. After various times, surviving nematodes were added to columns of soil (maintaining the different soil properties) with weevil larvae. EPNs that recycle in weevils in these columns will be periodically added to fresh columns with weevil larvae for several generations. EPN community composition of each generation in the different soils will be characterized. Field sites will also be identified based on moisture variablilty and soil types to implement field trials that manipulate both moisture and pH. Drafts of two manuscripts were initiated: ‘Soil pH modulates Paenibacillus spore adherance to Steinernema diaprepesi and the longevity of infective juvenile entomopathogenic nematodes’ and ‘Soil water potential and pH structure entomopathogenic nematode communities in microcosms.’ Plant parasitic Nematodes: Characterizing a new nematode pest and the prevalence of resistance breaking populations of the citrus nematode. Treated plots with oxamyl and and two experimental nematicides in Feb-March. Will sample and evaluate effects in May. Analyzed soil texture and fertility in samples from a heavily infested grove near St. Cloud (reported 12/13) and found no relationship with population density of X. vulgare. Established cultures of this species on citrus seedlings in the greenhouse for controlled studies of pathology and comparative root symptomatology. Detected putative resistance breaking biotype of Tylenchulus semipenetrans from orchard on Swingle citrumelo which will be cultured on indicator ‘host range’ rootstocks for comparison to populations recovered from non-Poncirus rootstocks.