The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood is one of the most harmful species within the genus Meloidogyne. It has been detected regularly in greenhouses throughout Europe, while in the field it is restricted to the southern parts of Europe (4). M. incognita is able to parasitize more than 700 plant species and varieties, including the majority of our economically important crops (1). It has been recorded in most parts of the world, including former Yugoslavia; however, there is no data about its presence in Slovenia. In late summer of 2002, large galls were observed on roots of pepper, Capsicum annuum L., grown in a greenhouse located in Portorož near the Adriatic Coast of Slovenia. Different root-knot nematode stages, i.e., males, females, and second-stage juveniles, were isolated and morphologically identified as M. incognita (2). Additional isozyme gel electrophoresis confirmed this (3). To our knowledge, this is the first report of M. incognita from Slovenia. In addition, M. hapla Chitwood was found for the first time in a field in Slovenia. Previously, it had been detected on different host plants, all restricted to greenhouses. In October 2002, M. hapla was isolated and identified from relatively small galls of sweet pepper, C. annuum L., grown in a field near Ljubljana, located in central Slovenia. Additional resampling of the soil comfirmed the presence of M. hapla in this field.
References: (1) J. D. Eisenback. Root-Knot Nematode Taxonomic Database. CD-ROM, CABI, Wallingford, UK, 1998. (2) J. D. Eisenback and H. Hirschmann Triantaphyllou. Root-knot nematodes: Meloidogyne species and races. Pages 191--274 in: Manual of Agricultural Nematology. W. R. Nickle, ed. Marcel Dekkers, Inc., New York, 1991. (3) P. R. Esbenshade and A. C. Triantaphyllou. J. Nematol. 17:6, 1985. (4) G. Karssen. Revision of the European root-knot nematodes III on mono- and dicotyledons. Pages 119--121 in: The Plant-Parasitic Nematode Genus Meloidogyne Göldi, 1892 (Tylenchida) in Europe. Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, the Netherlands, 2002.
