Further observations on Meloidogyne enterolobii (Nematoda: Meloidogynidae) infecting guava (Psidium guajava) in India

Abstract

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) infect a large number of crops including guava. We investigated a population of Meloidogyne sp. infecting guava in the Coimbatore region of Tamil Nadu, India for identification and species confirmation. Detailed morphological and morphometric observations based on second-stage juveniles, males, females, and perineal patterns showed resemblance of the isolated population with the original and subsequent descriptions of M. enterolobii. Isozyme analysis of the young egg-laying females displayed the characteristic esterase phenotype pattern similar to that of M. enterolobii. Additionally, the identity of the nematode population was further validated by M. enterolobii specific SCAR marker and ITS rDNA. Recently published reports on the occurrence and morphological descriptions of M. enterolobii from India are largely incongruent with the original and subsequent redescriptions of the species. Here, we present the most comprehensive morphology and morphometrics of an Indian population of M. enterolobii for its authentic identification.