Species of Meloidogyne associated with vegetables in microregions of the state of Ceará

ABSTRACT

The root-knot nematode, genus Meloidogyne, is considered the most important among the phytonematodes due to the heavy losses caused in agricultural areas worldwide. Identification of the species of Meloidogyne which are present in any one region is essential for understanding the diversity and dispersal of the population, and make possible the adoption of effective control measures. Updated information on the Meloidogyne species that occur in plants in productive regions of the state of Ceará is still scarce. The objective of this study was to identify the species of Meloidogyne associated with vegetables, and their predominance in these areas of cultivation. Identification to species level was carried out based on phenotypes of the enzyme esterase, and the strain determined by the reaction of differentiating plants. Seventy-four samples of plants infested with the nematode were collected from producing areas in 19 municipalities in ten microregions of Ceará. Of the 74 populations obtained, 27 displayed phenotypes typical of M. incognita (I1 and I2), 20 of M. enterolobii (M2), 15 of M. javanica (J3), 5 of M. arenaria (A2) and 1 of M. hapla (H1). In six populations however, the phenotypes of esterase which were found differed from the patterns of Meloidogyne known in Brazil, and was referred to as Meloidogyne sp. Among the 68 associations between plants and species of Meloidogyne biochemically identified, 25 are being reported in the state for the first time. This work made it possible to update information on the occurrence, distribution and new reports of the root-knot nematode in agricultural areas of the state of Ceará.

Key words:
Root-knot nematode; Electrophoresis; Esterase