Abstract
The nematode Meloidogyne enterolobii (Yang & Eisenback) is one of the main pathogens associated with the guava tree (Psidium guajava L.) in northeastern Brazil. Considering the frequency with which weeds are found in fruit production areas and their potential as phytonematode hosts, the aim of this study was to investigate the reaction of weeds to the parasitism of M. enterolobii. The species evaluated for nematode infection were Acanthospermum hispidum DC., Ageratum conyzoides L., Alternanthera tenella Colla., Amaranthus deflexus L., A. spinosus L., A. viridis L., Bidens pilosa L., Clitoria ternatea L., Datura stramonium L., Macroptilium lathyroides (L.) Urb., Merremia aegyptia (L.) Urb., Solanum americanum Mill., S. paniculatum L. and Spigelia anthelmia L. Of these, only six were classified as susceptible to the pathogen with factor breeding >1.0: S. paniculatum, S. americanum, B. pilosa, A. conyzoides, A. tenella, and M. aegyptia, fourspecies were resistant: S. anthelmia, M. lathyroides, C. ternatea, and D. stramonium and four species behaved as immune to the nematode: A. hispidum, A. deflexus, A. spinosus, and A. viridis. From the results obtained, it was found that weed species susceptible to M. enterolobii may pose a threat to the cultivation of guava, serving as a source of inoculum. Control measures in infested orchards should consider the hostability of these plants to the nematode in order to recommend their careful removal from the cultivated area.
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