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First report of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne ethiopica on tomato in Slovenia

A ProMED-mail post
ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases

June 4, 2004
From: American Phytopathological Society, Plant Disease Notes [edited]

First report of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne ethiopica on tomato in Slovenia
S. Sirca and G. Urek, Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, Hacquetova 17, 1001 Ljubjana, Slovenia; and G. Karssen, Plant Protection Service, Geertjesweg 15, 6700 HC Wageningen, the Netherlands. Plant Dis. 88:680, 2004; published on-line as D-2004-0407-01N, 2004.
Accepted for publication 21 Jan 2004.


The root-knot nematode _Meloidogyne ethiopica_ Whitehead originally described from Tanzania is also distributed in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Ethiopia (3). Although this species is a relatively unknown root-knot nematode, _M. ethiopica_ parasitizes several economically important crops, such as tomato, cowpea, bean, cabbage, pepper, pumpkin, tobacco, lettuce, and soybean (4).

This species can be morphologically confused with _M. incognita_ (Kofoid & White), and therefore is probably easily overlooked (1). Recently, characteristic esterase isozyme patterns were described for this species, which provide a more reliable identification (2).

In October 2003, _Lycopersicum esculentum_ cv. Belle plants with large root-galls were observed in a greenhouse at Dornberk, Slovenia, which were identified as an unknown root-knot nematode within the _M. incognita_ group. Subsequent sampling revealed infestation of all tomato plants within this greenhouse with obvious aboveground
symptoms of stunting and wilting. Additional morphological and isozyme studies identified this root-knot nematode as _M. ethiopica_.

The identification was based on female, male, and 2nd-stage juvenile morphology and malate dehydrogenase and esterase isozyme phenotypes from young egg-laying females isolated from 20 tomato plants and compared with a culture of _M. ethiopica_ from Africa.

To our knowledge, this is not only the 1st report of _M. ethiopica_ in Slovenia, but also the 1st report of this species in Europe.

References:
(1) A. M. Golden. Fundam. Appl. Nematol. 15:189, 1992.
(2) W. Mandefro and K. Dagne. Afr. J. Plant Prot. 10:39, 2000.
(3) A. G. Whitehead. Trans. Zool. Soc. Lond. 31:263, 1968.
(4) A. G. Whitehead. Nematologica 15:315, 1969.

[Root knot nematodes cause crop yield reductions by interfering with nutrient flow in the xylem. Infected plants are less vigorous than healthy plants and are susceptible to wilting at high temperatures. Disease management utilizes several strategies: weed control because they are often hosts; resistant host cultivars; rotation with resistant varieties and non-host crops; and soil fumigation using broad-spectrum fumigants to reduce fungi and nematode populations.

Additional references:
<http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r783200111.html>
<http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_PG108http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_PG108>
- Mod.DH
]

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