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Research Conducted
Twenty-six entries including 22 cover crops and species, corn and wheat as rotational crops, and two susceptible soybean cultivars were evaluated for host range in a growth chamber by inoculating each plant with 2,000 eggs of two SCN populations from two soybean fields in ND. Ten cover crops were further evaluated in microplot experiments. Crops were planted in pots each containing 5 kg of infested field soil (Figure 2). After 75 days of growth, soil samples were collected from each pot. SCN eggs and other plant-parasitic nematodes were extracted and counted for evaluation of each crop for population reduction.

Why the research is important to ND soybean farmers
SCN is one of the major yield-reducing pests of soybean in ND. Host resistance and crop rotation are common practices to manage SCN, but limited sources of resistance to this nematode put pressure on virulence change in populations to overcome resistance. Thus, integrated management strategy is necessary for sustainable management of SCN. Cover crops may reduce plant-parasitic nematode populations and provide an alternative means to manage SCN.

Final findings of the research
Twenty-one entries (alfalfa, balansa clover, berseem clover, winter camelina, faba beans (Petite and CNS), flax, forage oat, forage pea, Japanese millet, brown mustard, white mustard, daikon radish, oilseed radishes (Image, Concorde, and Control), pennycress, sunn hemp, white proso millet, corn, and wheat) did not support any SCN reproduction, suggesting non-hosts. Chickling vetch and crambe showed low reproduction as poor-hosts, while lupine showed some reproduction, suggesting a suitable host. SCN reproduced less in all tested crops compared to the two susceptible soybean cultivars. All the tested crops significantly reduced SCN populations compared with the susceptible soybean Barnes, but not with the non-planted control (fallow). White mustard, oilseed radish (Concorde, Control), and faba bean (Petite) were more effective than others in population reduction. None of the crops significantly reduced populations of other nematodes in infested soil.

Benefits/Recommendations to North Dakota soybean farmers and industry
Nineteen cover crops and species are identified as non-hosts for SCN. These crops have the potential to be used as cover crops or rotational crops in infested fields to reduce SCN numbers. The experiments will be repeated in 2019 to confirm their population reduction levels. The research findings are useful to navigate the selection and use of cover crops for farmers to reduce SCN damage to increase soybean yield in infested fields.