Meloidogyne ethiopica parasitizing melon fields in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil

Abstract

Samples of melon plants with aerial symptoms that represented yellowing of leaves and stunting, and below-ground galls on the roots from two growing areas in the Municipality of Vicente Dutra, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, were obtained. The parasitizing nematode species was identified as Meloidogyne ethiopica based on perineal pattern morphology, esterase phenotypes, and molecular composition (D2–D3 region). This is the first formal record of melon being infected by M. ethiopica in Brazil.