Indian Journal of Nematology

Thirty populations of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) collected from different pockets of Haryana were distinguished on the basis of morphological characters (perineal pattern) of females of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.). They belonged to three species i.e. Meloidogyne incognita, M. javanica and M. arenaria. No apparent differences were obtained in morphological characters of second stage juveniles of these species. Race identification of M. incognita and M. arenaria on the basis of North Carolina host differentials revealed the presence of race 2 and 4 of M. incognita and race 2 of M. arenaria. M. javanica populations did not reproduce on groundnut host differentials and thus belonged to race-1. Species and races were further confirmed by electrophoretic techniques by using enzyme phenotypes esterase, glutamate oxalo acetate transaminase (GOT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH). Meloidogyne species could easily be differentiated by banding patterns of esterases and SOD.