Pea Cyst Nematodes Show Up in U.S. Soil

The pea cyst nematode--a tough, root-devouring pest never before confirmed in U.S. soil--has been found in pea fields in two counties, Washington state agriculture officials said Friday.

“This is the first confirmed report of its actually being found in a commercial field in the United States,” said plant pathologist Dan Williams in the state Agriculture Department’s Olympia office.

The cyst nematodes, found throughout Europe and the former Soviet Union, were confirmed last month in pea fields in Skagit and Lewis counties.

The pests pose no threat to consumers, but can drastically affect yields. By removing nutrients from the plant’s roots, they can inhibit growth and cause plant discoloration, said Debbie Inglis, plant pathologist at Washington State University’s Mt. Vernon Research and Extension Center.