| Legend |
|---|
| Justification for qualification based on EPPO PM 4 Standards |
| Justification for disqualification |
| Additional or non-conclusive information |
| Standard text |
NAME OF THE ORGANISM: Meloidogyne javanica (MELGJA)
GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE PEST
Name as submitted in the project specification (if different):
Pest category:
Nematoda
1- Identity of the pest/Level of taxonomic listing:
Is the organism clearly a single taxonomic entity and can it be adequately distinguished from other entities of the same rank?
Yes
Is the pest defined at the species level or lower?:
Yes
Can listing of the pest at a taxonomic level higher than species be supported by scientific reasons or can species be identified within the taxonomic rank which are the (main) pests of concern?
- Not relevant: Fruits (including hops) sector
If necessary, please list the species:
-
Is it justified that the pest is listed at a taxonomic rank below species level?
Not relevant
Conclusion:
- Candidate: Fruits (including hops) sector
Justification (if necessary):
The integration of molecular and isozyme electrophoretic pattern techniques with classical morphological approaches help to provide tools for differentiating Meloidogyne species and significantly improve and facilitate the routine identification of these nematodes (Archidona-Yuste et al., 2018). Some references for identification via morphological characteristics, isozyme electrophoresis and molecular methods are available in EPPO Standard PM 7/103 Diagnostic protocol for Meloidogyne enterolobii.
2 – Status in the EU:
Is this pest already a quarantine pest for the whole EU?
No
Presence in the EU:
Yes
List of countries (EPPO Global Database):
-
Conclusion:
Candidate
Justification (if necessary):
Meloidogyne javanica is, amongst other countries, reported in Bulgaria (Samaliev et al., 2018), Cyprus (Philis, 1983), France (Terlidou, 1974), Germany (CABI, 2021), Greece (Tzortzakakis et al., 2011, Gonçalves et al., 2020), Hungary (CABI, 2021), Italy (Candido et al., 2005), Poland (CABI, 2021), Portugal (Maleita et al., 2022), Spain (Clavero-Camacho et al., 2024)
HOST PLANT N°1: Ficus carica (FIUCA) for the Fruits (including hops) sector.
Origin of the listing:
Commission Implementing Directive (EU) 2014/98/EU and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072
Plants for planting:
Plants intended for planting
3 - Is the pest already listed in a PM4 standard on the concerned host plant?
No
Conclusion:
Evaluation continues
Justification (if necessary):
No PM4 for Ficus carica. Remark: M. incognita is only mentioned in PM4/017(3) olive trees and rootstocks, not in the PM4 certification schemes available for all Prunus spp. and pome fruits. These schemes post-date the first mentioning of M. javanica in Europe. However, these certification schemes require that nuclear stock is produced in sterilized growing medium
4 - Are the listed plants for planting the main* pathway for the "pest/host/intended use" combination? (*: significant compared to others):
Yes
Conclusion:
Candidate
Justification:
Main transmission mode - in addition to plants for planting - is soil (EPPO, 2022; PM4/017)
Meloidogyne arenaria, M. javanica and M. incognita are the most common species in warmer conditions of southern Europe, but also in glasshouses in northern Europe (Wesemael et al., 2011) e.g. Meloidogyne arenaria, M. incognita and M. javanica are the most predominant root-knot nematodes in Spain. Meloidogyne arenaria and M. javanica were positively associated with sandy texture (e.g. soil) (Clavero-Camacho et al., 2024).
Goodey et al. (1965) list a total of 770 host species or varieties for Meloidogyne javanica, including many weeds as well as crop plants. In addition to those crops in the list of hosts, there are many others of economic importance, including tea, grapevine, many vegetables, fruit trees, cereals and ornamentals (cited from CABI, 2021).
Eggs and juveniles can be transported with soil, so anything which has soil attached is a potential pathway including agricultural equipment and containers, tools, vehicle tires, and workers clothing or boots (CABI, 2021). The nematodes can also be transported by water; down river flooded fields can become infected (Clavero-Camacho et al., 2024).
Meloidogyne spp. are not transmitted with seeds (in Wesemael et al., 2011).
Meloidogyne arenaria, M. javanica and M. incognita are the most common species in warmer conditions of southern Europe, but also in glasshouses in northern Europe (Wesemael et al., 2011) e.g. Meloidogyne arenaria, M. incognita and M. javanica are the most predominant root-knot nematodes in Spain. Meloidogyne arenaria and M. javanica were positively associated with sandy texture (e.g. soil) (Clavero-Camacho et al., 2024).
Goodey et al. (1965) list a total of 770 host species or varieties for Meloidogyne javanica, including many weeds as well as crop plants. In addition to those crops in the list of hosts, there are many others of economic importance, including tea, grapevine, many vegetables, fruit trees, cereals and ornamentals (cited from CABI, 2021).
Eggs and juveniles can be transported with soil, so anything which has soil attached is a potential pathway including agricultural equipment and containers, tools, vehicle tires, and workers clothing or boots (CABI, 2021). The nematodes can also be transported by water; down river flooded fields can become infected (Clavero-Camacho et al., 2024).
Meloidogyne spp. are not transmitted with seeds (in Wesemael et al., 2011).
5 - Economic impact:
Are there documented reports of any economic impact on the host?
Yes
Justification:
Although Meloidogyne is considered worldwide as the most important genus of plant-parasitic nematodes, information in the scientific literature on the economic impact of root-knot nematodes in Europe is scarce (Wesemael et al., 2011).
In Mediterranean and warm temperate climates, the perennial crops most affected by root-knot nematode species include Prunus spp. and, to a lesser extent fig (Ficus carica) (Saucet et al., 2016).
In fig trees, root-knot nematodes are reported to cause reduction in growth and yield. Heavily infected roots may die (CABI, 2022). In Spain, practical experience from the field shows that Meloidogyne species cause considerable damage in all areas where this fruit tree is grown. In Extremadura, the species M. arenaria has been identified. There is currently no authorised nematicide against these pathogenic nematodes, so they must be controlled by solarisation or biofumigation (Casadomet et al., 2015).
Meloidogyne is also considered as a yield- and production-limiting pest of fig in Brazil (Sherb, 1993). Species associated with this crop around the world include M. arenaria, M. javanica and M. incognita (McSorley 1981), the latter in higher frequency. The presence of this nematode in the crop also affected commercial production in the past in the United States i(Knight Jr 1980), France (Scotto La Massèse et al. 1984) and Brasil (Ferraz et al. 1982, Campos 1997), countries with the highest yields in the world (references in Perraza-Padilla et al., 2013).
These nematodes are also one of the limiting factors for the cultivation of fig in India where it caused considerable yield losses (Jagdev and Mhase, 2019). Jagdev and Mhase (2019) conducted a field experiment to assess the yield losses due to M. incognita in fig (cv. Poona). Their results indicated that the loss in yield of fig in untreated trees ranged from 16.57 to 31.60%.
In Mediterranean and warm temperate climates, the perennial crops most affected by root-knot nematode species include Prunus spp. and, to a lesser extent fig (Ficus carica) (Saucet et al., 2016).
In fig trees, root-knot nematodes are reported to cause reduction in growth and yield. Heavily infected roots may die (CABI, 2022). In Spain, practical experience from the field shows that Meloidogyne species cause considerable damage in all areas where this fruit tree is grown. In Extremadura, the species M. arenaria has been identified. There is currently no authorised nematicide against these pathogenic nematodes, so they must be controlled by solarisation or biofumigation (Casadomet et al., 2015).
Meloidogyne is also considered as a yield- and production-limiting pest of fig in Brazil (Sherb, 1993). Species associated with this crop around the world include M. arenaria, M. javanica and M. incognita (McSorley 1981), the latter in higher frequency. The presence of this nematode in the crop also affected commercial production in the past in the United States i(Knight Jr 1980), France (Scotto La Massèse et al. 1984) and Brasil (Ferraz et al. 1982, Campos 1997), countries with the highest yields in the world (references in Perraza-Padilla et al., 2013).
These nematodes are also one of the limiting factors for the cultivation of fig in India where it caused considerable yield losses (Jagdev and Mhase, 2019). Jagdev and Mhase (2019) conducted a field experiment to assess the yield losses due to M. incognita in fig (cv. Poona). Their results indicated that the loss in yield of fig in untreated trees ranged from 16.57 to 31.60%.
What is the likely economic impact of the pest irrespective of its infestation source in the absence of phytosanitary measures? (= official measures)
Medium
Is the economic impact due to the presence of the pest on the named host plant for planting, acceptable to the propagation and end user sectors concerned?
No
Is there unacceptable economic impact caused to other hosts (or the same host with a different intended use) produced at the same place of production due to the transfer of the pest from the named host plant for planting?
Conclusion:
Candidate
Justification:
For Ficus carica no effective control strategy based on resistance has yet been implemented, although Ficus racemose seems to be highly resistant and is graft compatible (Saucet et al., 2016).
6 - Are there feasible and effective measures available to prevent the presence of the pest on the plants for planting at an incidence above a certain threshold (including zero) to avoid an unacceptable economic impact as regards the relevant host plants?
Yes
Conclusion:
Candidate
Justification:
Use of clean soil: The propagation material is kept either in containers of sterilized growing medium or in soil that has been tested and found free from Xiphinema diversicaudatum (see EPPO Standard PM4/35), Meloidogyne arenaria, M. incognita, M. javanica, Pratylenchus vulnus and Verticillium dahlia (EPPO 2022)
7- Is the quality of the data sufficient to recommend the pest to be listed as a RNQP?
Conclusion:
Justification:
CONCLUSION ON THE STATUS:
Recommended for listing as an RNQP based on data.
8 - Tolerance level:
Is there a need to change the Tolerance level:
No
Proposed Tolerance levels:
9 - Risk management measures:
Is there a need to change the Risk management measure:
No
Proposed Risk management measure:
Justification (if necessary):
The Fruit SEWG discussed how visual examination should be performed in a nursery: although random inspection of the roots of asymptomatic plants for this nematode is better (i.e. uprooting some asymptomatic plants), some countries considered that it would have an unacceptable economic impact and recommended that root examination is only performed following suspicions.
REFERENCES:
- CABI (2021) Meloidogyne incognita (root-knot nematode) (accessed 2/May/2024). https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/cabicompendium.33245
- CABI (2022) The Fig. Botany, production and uses. CAB International. ISBN-13:978 1 78924 289 8.
- Candido V, Miccolis V, Basile M, D Addabbo T & Gatta G (2005). Soil solarization for the control of Meloidogyne javanica on eggplant in Southern Italy. Acta horticulturae, 698, 195-200.
- Casadomet E, López Corrales M, Pérez Gragera F, Senero M, Pérez Ross J & Del Moral J (2015) Parásitos, patógenos y fisiopatías de la higuera. Phytoma, 271: 30-39.
- Clavero-Camacho I, Archidona-Yuste A, Cantalapiedra-Navarrete C, Castillo P & Palomares-Rius JE (2024) Prevalence and ecological factors affecting the distribution of plant-parasitic nematodes in Prunus groves in Spain Journal of Integrative Agriculture 23(2), 566–589.
- Duval H, Van Ghelder C, Portier U, Confolent C, Meza P & Esmenjaud D (2019). New Data Completing the Spectrum of the Ma, RMia, and RMja Genes for Resistance to Root-Knot Nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) in Prunus. Phytopathology 109(4):615-622. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-05-18-0173-R
- EPPO (2022) PM 4/17 (3) Certification scheme for olive trees and rootstocks. EPPO Bulletin 52, 590–60. DOI: 10.1111/epp.1288
- Gonçalves AR, Conceição IL, Kormpi M & Tzortzakakis EA (2020). Lavandula angustifolia and Oxalis pes-caprae, hosts of Meloidogyne hapla and Meloidogyne javanica - A note for Meloidogyne luci in Greece. Hellenic Plant Protection Journal 13(2), 78-82. https://sciendo.com/pl/article/10.2478/hppj-2020-0008?content-tab=abstract.
- Goodey JB, Franklin MT, Hooper DJ (1965). T. Goodey's the nematode parasites of plants catalogued under their hosts. 3rd. ed. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.
- Jagdev GH, Mhase NL (2019) Assessment of avoidable yield losses due to root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita infesting fig under field conditions. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 7(6), 274-277.
- Jones JT, Haegeman A, Danchin EGJ, Gaur HS, Helder J, Jones MGK, Kikuchi T, Manzanilla-López R, Palomares-Rius JE, Wesemael WML & Perry RN (2013) Top 10 plant-parasitic nematodes in molecular plant pathology. Molecular Plant Pathology 14 (9), 946-961.
- Maleita C, Santos D, Abrantes I & Esteves I (2022). First report of root knot nematodes Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica parasitizing sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas, in Portugal. Plant Disease 106(9), 2536.
- Perraza-Padilla W, Rosales-Flores J., Esquivel-Hernández A, Hilje-Rodríguez I, Molina-Bravo R & Castillo-Castillo P (2013).Identificación morfológica, morfométrica y molecular de Meloidogyne incógnita en higuera (Ficus carica L.) en Costa Rica. Agronomía Mesoamericana 24(2), 337-346.
- Philis J, 1983. Occurrence of Meloidogyne spp. and races on the island of Cyprus. Nematologia Mediterranea 11(1), 13-19.
- Samaliev HY, Salkova DS, Baycheva OTs, Zinovieva SV & Udalova ZhV (2018) Investigations of the root-knot nematodes of the genus Meloidogyne (Goeldi, 1887) on the territories of Bulgaria and Russian Federation. Russian Journal of Parasitology 12(4), 94–98. DOI: 10.31016/1998-8435-2018-12-4-94-9
- Saucet SB, Van Ghelder C, Abad P, Duval H & Esmenjaud D9 (2016) Resistance to root-knot nematodes Meloidogyne spp. in woody plants. New Phytologist (2016) 211: 41–56. doi: 10.1111/nph.13933
- Terlidou MC (1974). Effect of root knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica (Treub) Chitwood in vine nurseries. Vitis, 12, 316-319.
- Toth F, Bogdányi FT, Petrikovszki R, Gódor A, Zalai M, Balint B, Sunder P & Myrta, A. (2019). Control of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita and weeds in protected cucumber with dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) over two crop cycles: The first results in Hungary. Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica 54(2), 267-278.
- Wesemael W, Viaene N & Moens M. (2011). Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) in Europe. Nematology 13(1), 3-16. https://doi.org/10.1163/138855410X526831