Meloidogyne Species

Meloidogyne species, commonly known as root-knot nematodes, are the most economically important plant parasitic nematodes worldwide, affecting over 3,000 plant species including vegetables, fruits, field crops, and ornamentals. These endoparasitic nematodes penetrate plant roots and establish feeding sites that become enlarged and distorted, forming characteristic root galls or knots. Infected plants exhibit stunting, yellowing, wilting, and reduced yield, with severity dependent on nematode population density and host susceptibility. Multiple Meloidogyne species exist with different geographic distributions and host ranges, including M. incognita, M. javanica, M. arenaria, and M. hapla.