Meloidogyne enterolobii, a Major Threat to Tomato Production: Current Status and Future Prospects for Its Management

Abstract

The guava root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne enterolobii (Syn. M. mayaguensis ), is an emerging pathogen to many crops in the world. This nematode can cause chlorosis, stunting, and reduce yields associated with the induction of many root galls on host plants. Recently, this pathogen has been considered as a global threat for tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.) production due to the lack of known resistance in commercially accepted varieties and the aggressiveness of M. enterolobii . Both conventional morphological and molecular approaches have been used to identify M. enterolobii , an important first step in an integrated management. To combat root-knot nematodes, integrated disease management strategies such as crop rotation, field sanitation, biocontrol agents, fumigants, and resistant cultivars have been developed and successfully used in the past. However, the resistance in tomato varieties mediated by known Mi- genes does not control M. enterolobii . Here, we review the current knowledge on geographic distribution, host range, population biology, control measures, and proposed future strategies to improve M. enterolobii control in tomato.

Fungal Endophytes and Their Role in Agricultural Plant Protection against Pests and Pathogens

“…Root-knot nematodes, represented by Meloidogyne species, are globally ubiquitous and impact over 2000 plant species including economically important crops such as tomato, cotton, cucumber, melon, soybean and rice [ 104 , 106 , 107 , 108 , 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 ]. Many fungal genera have been reported as having inhibitory effects on Meloidogyne species, including: Acremonium , Alternaria , Arthrobotrys , Chaetomium , Cladosporium , Clonostachys , Diaporthe , Drechslerella , Epichloë , Epiccocum , Fusarium , Gibellulopsis , Melanconium , Metacordyceps , Monacrosporium , Neotyphodium , Paecilomyces , Phialemonium , Phyllosticta , Piriformospora , Purpureocillium , Talaromyces and Trichoderma [ 106 , 110 , 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 , 117 , 118 , 119 , 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 , 124 , 125 , 126 ].…”

A nematode effector inhibits plant immunity by preventing cytosolic free Ca2+ rise

“…It exhibits high virulence and a strong ability to overcome resistance genes, including the Mi‐1 , N, Mh and Tabasco genes. M. enterolobii has been considered a major threat to global agricultural production (Berthou et al, 2003; Brito et al, 2007; Castagnone‐Sereno, 2012; Philbrick et al, 2020). Thus, it is necessary to understand the mechanism of M. enterolobii parasitism to develop effective control methods.…”

Interactive Effects of Filamentous Fungi and Cucurbitacin Phytonematicide on Growth of Cowpea and Suppression of Meloidogyne enterolobii

“…Findings suggested that when infestations of phloem-sucking insects such as aphids and greenhouse whiteflies ( Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood) when unchecked on sweet stem sorghum and wild Cucumis species, resistance to Meloidogyne species was invariably lost ( Pofu et al, 2012 ; Mashela et al, 2017a ; Maleka et al, 2021 ). Incidentally, another emerging Meloidogyne species, the guava root-knot nematode [ Meloidogyne enterolobii (Jang and Eisenback)], with a wide range of host plants and, the shortest ontogeny of 15 days among thermophilic Meloidogyne species ( Collet, 2020 ), was not affected by Mi resistance genes that affect most Meloidogyne species in Solanum species ( Philbrick et al, 2020 ). Globally, M. enterolobii is being viewed as the most aggressive among Meloidogyne species ( Castagnone-Sereno, 2012 ; Dareus et al, 2021 ).…”