[Survey of Parasitic Nematodes in the Rhizosphere of Apple Seedlings and Trees at Homs Governorate.]

Apple (Malus Mill.) is one of among the oldest of the world's fruit crops, figuring in both the Bible and the tales of Homer. They are by far the most important of the deciduous tree fruits, It's of food agricultural importance in Syria. Apples are primarily grown for the fresh fruit market, which is much more remunerative than that for processing. It contain high percentage of dietary fibres, many vitamins and mineral salts which are of medicinal uses. Apple may be infected by many pests and diseases that affect its production, Plant-parasitic nematodes are of considerable importance worldwide and their devastating effects on crops have major economic and social impacts. This study aimed to determine which genera and species are in the rhizosphere of apple trees and seedlings. This study was carried out during 2008-2009 at four locations and two nurseries of Homs governorate in Syria to study the following aspects: First: Survey of genera and species nematodes in apple tree rhizosphere, it was carried out on 2008 at four locations of Homs governorate (Rabah, Al-Qsseer, Al-Salhia and Al-Mokaabara) in Syria. One hundred and forty eight sampels were collected from roots and rhizosphere. Nematodes were extracted by two methods: Sieving and Baermann funnel, and then identified using microscopic examination. Population density and absolute frequency of each genus were calculated. Results of orchards survey revealed 20 species and 13 genus belong to 7 families and 3 orders: (i) Rhabditida order: Pratylenchoides, Pratylenchus, Helicotylenchus, Scutellonema, Zygotylenchus, Tylenchorhynchus, Macroposthonia , Paratylenchus. . Xiphinema Longidorus, Paralongidorus, (ii) Dorylaimida order: (iii) Triplonchida order: Trichodorus , Paratrichodorus . Based on Frequency of Occurrence (FO) in soil, these genera can be arranged in descending order as follows: Pratylenchoides (FO=60.14, one species), Pratylenchus (47.97, 8 species), Paratylenchus (34.46, two species), Helicotylenchus (26.35, two species ), Xiphinema (16.22, one species), Tylenchorhynchus (9.46, one species). Second: Survey of genera and species nematodes in apple seedlings rhizosphere, it was carried out on 2008-2009 at two nurseries in Homs governorate. Nematodes were extracted by two methods: Sieving and Baermann funnel, and then examined using microscope for identified Population density and absolute frequency of each genus were calculated.