Abstract
Root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp., cause huge economic losses worldwide. Currently, three Meloidogyne spp. are present on the quarantine A2 list of EPPO, Meloidogyne chitwoodi, Meloidogyne fallax and Meloidogyne enterolobii. As a quarantine organism, Meloidogyne fallax has been detected in England and Northern Ireland on sport turf in 2011, and in England on leek in 2013. However, its presence in Ireland has probably been overlooked since 1965, when Mr. John F. Moore and Dr. Mary T. Franklin had detected a new Meloidogyne species for that time. While the relevant data was recorded and a preliminary manuscript describing the species was prepared but never submitted for publication, and together with the original slides, pictures and drawings, it was restudied recently. We compared the population of Irish Meloidogyne sp. to other similar Meloidogyne spp. Careful observation and comparison shows that it belongs to Meloidogyne fallax. The characters found to be common for Irish Meloidogyne sp. and Meloidogyne fallax are female stylet length (14.6 μm) with oval to rounded basal knobs, oval shaped perineal pattern with moderately high dorsal arch, slender stylet in males (18.5 μm) with set off and rounded basal knobs, slightly set off male head with one post-labial annule and incomplete transverse incisures, and second-stage juveniles with large and rounded stylet basal knobs, and a gradually tapering tail (46.9 μm) with a broadly rounded tip and a clearly delimitated smooth hyaline part sometimes marked by constrictions (12.9 μm). The host test and gall formation also correspond to Meloidogyne fallax. The identification could not be additionally supported by molecular analysis, as we were unable to extract DNA from the old permanent slides. Nevertheless, our study reveals that the Meloidogyne species detected in Ireland in 1965 belongs to Meloidogyne fallax.
Highlights
Nematodes belonging to Meloidogyne spp. are among the most dangerous plant-parasitic nematodes worldwide and cause huge economic losses (Elling 2013)
The characters found to be common for Irish Meloidogyne sp. and M. fallax are female stylet length (14.6 μm) with oval to rounded basal knobs, oval shaped perineal pattern with moderately high dorsal arch, slender stylet in males (18.5 μm) with set off and rounded basal knobs, slightly set off male head with one post-labial annule and incomplete transverse incisures, and second-stage juveniles with large and rounded stylet basal knobs, and a gradually tapering tail (46.9 μm) with a broadly rounded tip and a clearly delimitated smooth hyaline part sometimes marked by constrictions (12.9 μm)
The perineal pattern of females of Irish Meloidogyne population was used for comparison according to Jepson (1987), it is not sufficient to distinguish M. fallax and M. chitwoodi from each other (Karssen 2002, Karssen 1996)
Summary
Nematodes belonging to Meloidogyne spp. are among the most dangerous plant-parasitic nematodes worldwide and cause huge economic losses (Elling 2013). There are very few records on the presence of root-knot nematodes in Ireland They attracted attention after Entwistle (2003) described the process of developing yellow patches symptoms on golf courses throughout the UK and Ireland. An annual report of Plant Sciences and Crop Husbandry Division ( named Teagasc) contains information about the Meloidogyne species attacking tomato (Moore 1965). In December 1965, the samples of galled tomato roots from an unheated greenhouse in Clonakilty, Cork were sent to the laboratory of Horticultural & Forestry Research Centre in Kinsealy for analysis. Based on our observations of this material, we hypothesize that it belongs to M. fallax, a quarantine species described five decades afterwards
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