TABLE CONTENTS

Two Emerging Species of Root-Knot Nematodes in Florida, USA:
Meloidogyne mayaguensis and M. floridensis
Brito, J.A. (1), J.D. Stanley (1), R. Cetintas (2), R. Kaur (3) & D.W. Dickson (3)
(1) Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, P. O. Box 147100,
Gainesville, FL, USA, 32614; (2) Dept. of Plant Protection, University of Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam,
Kahramanmaras, 46060, Turkey; (3) Entomology and Nematology Dept. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL,
USA, 32611
Meloidogyne mayaguensis was first reported in the United States in 2002 and M. floridensis
was first described in Florida in 2004. M. mayaguensis is reported in 25 counties in Florida
and M. floridensis in five. These nematode species are of great concern because of their
ability to overcome root-knot nematode resistance genes. M. mayaguensis is capable of
overcoming the resistance of Mi-1, N, Rk, and Tabasco genes in tomato, bell pepper, cowpea,
and sweet pepper, respectively, and unidentified genes in soybean cultivars. M. floridensis
reproduces well on the root-knot nematode resistant peach rootstocks Flordaguard,
Nemaguard, Nemared and Okinawa. Reported hosts of M. mayaguensis include: (i)
vegetables − Brassica oleracea (broccoli, cabbage, mustard), Citrullus lanatus, Curcubita
pepo, Ipomoea batatas and Solanum melongena; (ii) ornamentals − Ajuga reptans,
Amaranthus tricolor, Brugmansia spp., Buddleja davidii, Callistemon citrinus, C. viminalis,
Caryopteris clandonensis, Clerodendrum ugandense, Gardenia sp., Hibiscus grandiflorus,
Lantana camara, L. montevidensis, Myrica cerifera, Petunia sp., Plectranthus
scuetellarioides, Salix sepulcralis, Solandra maxima, Tecomaria capensis, Tibouchina x
compacta, Tibouchina x elegans and Washingtonia spp.; (iii) cover crops − Canavalia
ensiformis and Vicia sativa; (iv) herbs − Ocimum basilicum; (v) fruit trees − Psidium guajava
and Carica papaya; (vi) trees − Paulownia elongate and P. tormentosa; and (vii) weeds −
Amaranthus retroflexus, Bidens pilosa, Brassica kaber, Eclipta prostrata, Fatua vilosa,
Panicum sp., Poinsettia cyathophora, Portulaca oleracea, Senna obtusifolia and S.
americanum. Reported hosts of M. floridensis include: (i) vegetables − C. lanatus, Cucumis
sativus, C. pepo, S. melongena, Phaseolus vulgaris and S. esculentum; (ii) ornamentals −
Antirrhinum majus, Dracena sp., Hibiscus sp., Impatiens wallerana, Verbena hybrida; (iii)
cover crops − Brassica napis and Trifolium incarnatum; (iv) herbs - Anethum graveolens and
O. basilicum; and (v) weeds − Emilia sonchifolia, Ipomoea quamoclit and Nasturtium
officinalis. Reported hosts of both nematodes include: Abutilon theophrasti, Amaranthus
retroflexus, A. spinosus, Cucumis anguria, Cnidoscolus stimulosus, Dichondra repens, I.
Violacea, I. triloba, Leonotis nepetaefolia and Phytolacca americana. Some isolates of
Pasteuria penetranas were compatible with M. floridensis but incompatible with M.
mayaguensis.
5 th International Congress of Nematology, 2008 156