Podocarpus Totara

[PeterW]

I have 2 Podocarpus Totara's that i put into grow boxes today. I have never seen this species before but picked them up whilst looking around a nursery in Hervey Bay a few weeks ago. The roots have these funny looking nodes growing all over them. They seem to be part of the roots so i am not to sure if they are normal for them or not. Has anybody seen this before?
Regards
Peter

[Jon Chown]

Hi Peter, I had this type of lump on one of my bonsai some years ago and I remember being advised that it was something to do with 'Nematodes'.

Nematodes in agriculture
Depending on the species, a nematode may be beneficial or detrimental to plant health.

From an agricultural perspective, there are two categories of nematode: predatory ones, which will kill garden pests like cutworms, and pest nematodes, like the root-knot nematode, which attack plants.

Predatory nematodes can be bred by soaking a specific recipe of leaves and other detritus in water, in a dark, cool place, and can even be purchased as an organic form of pest control.

Rotations of plants with nematode resistant species or varieties is one means of managing parasitic nematode infestations. Another is treatment with natural antagonists such as the fungus gliocladium roseum.

This extract is from Wikipedia and you can read more about them here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nematodee

Jon

[PeterW]

Thanks Jon. I have discovered that the species are very resilient to pests and deseases. They are a NZ native and after googleing it i discovered that they are a favourite bonsai tree for our friends from the land of the long white cloud! I sent an email to a bonsai website over there to ask them about it. How good is that! Stumbled in the right direction for once. I have a feeling that they are a good thing (they little thingos) it mentioned something about helping them wth nitrogen!
Peter

[mudlarkpottery]

There are some trees and plants which have nitrogen-fixing nodules on the roots. You'll probably get the correct info from the Kiwis though.
Penny.