Morphological characterization of root knot nematode, Meloidogyne enterolobii (Tylenchida:Meloidogynidae) in guava (Psidium guajava L.) from Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are polyphagous plant parasites of global importance. Recently root knot nematode infection of guava trees has become serious problem in Tamil Nadu, India. Extensive surveys were carried out in nine districts (Coimbatore, Erode, Madurai, Theni, Villupuram, Thiruvannamalai, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri and Dindigul) of Tamil Nadu, India, to confirm the presence of Meloidogyne enterolobii. Morphological and morphometrical characterization of females, males and second stage juveniles (J2) using characters viz., body length, body width, stylet length, stylet knob height, stylet knob width and perineal patterns revealed similarity with those of the type description.