Nematode diagnostics and technical services in horticulture
Noicàttaro (Bari), Italy — officially recognised laboratory since 2009
Laboratory officially recognised by Regione Puglia for phytosanitary analyses relating to nematodes, on fruit plants and their propagating material, vegetable transplants and their propagating material excluding seeds, and propagating material of ornamental plants.
Determination no. 239 of 09/04/2009 — Official Bulletin of Regione Puglia no. 94 of 25/06/2009.
Alongside laboratory diagnostics, Horto Service provides technical assistance to horticultural growers and conducts trials under Good Experimental Practice (GEP) for the evaluation of plant protection products, biostimulants and other technical means.
What we do
Nematological analyses
Morphological identification and counting of plant-parasitic nematodes in soil, growing media, roots, seeds, plant tissues and water.
Every analysis is accompanied by a technical interpretation of the results, which places the recorded values in the context of the crop, the growing environment and the planned agronomic choices, sets out the practical implications and, where appropriate, guides subsequent management decisions.
Nematofauna analysis
Beyond counting the parasites, we provide the composition of the entire soil nematode community — parasites, predators, omnivores and decomposers — together with the parasite/predator ratio. This is an indicator of the biological status of the soil, useful in planning replanting and in assessing both the efficacy and the selectivity of treatments.
Efficacy trials
Design, conduct and reporting of efficacy trials on plant protection products, biostimulants and cultivars, in close cooperation with the AgroService Test Centre in Andria.
Field advisory services
Agronomic management of horticultural crops in open field, under protected conditions and in soilless systems, with particular attention to mineral nutrition and plant protection. Activities are also carried out abroad.
Scientific direction
Horto Service NemaLab is directed by Dr Giuseppe Lucarelli, agronomist and nematologist, member of the Board of Directors of the Italian Society of Nematology and member of the External Experts Advisory Board of the European project AGRO4AGRI. He is also Scientific Director of the AgroService Test Centre in Andria, qualified for GEP and GLP trials.
Requesting an analysis
The analysis request form is available in the Downloads section. Full instructions for collecting, packaging and shipping samples are given on the Sample preparation and shipping page.
