What symptoms distinguish sting nematodes from root-knot nematodes in turf roots?

• A. Sting nematodes cause galls or knots on roots and overall poor uptake.
• B. Root-knot nematodes cause stunted roots and patchy decline.
• C. Sting nematodes cause stunted roots and patchy decline; root-knot nematodes produce galls or knots on roots and overall poor uptake.
• D. Nematode symptoms are identical for both types.

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that different nematodes injure roots in distinct ways, and those injury patterns show up as specific turf symptoms. Root-knot nematodes create galls or knots on the roots where they feed, which disrupts water and nutrient uptake and leads to overall poor turf vigor. Sting nematodes, on the other hand, injure roots without forming galls, causing stunted root growth and a patchy decline in the turf as damage is unevenly distributed. So the best answer matches these diagnostic patterns: sting nematodes cause stunted roots and patchy decline, while root-knot nematodes produce galls or knots on roots with poor uptake.