Meloidogyne hapla dominates plant‐parasitic nematode communities associated with kiwifruit orchards in Portugal

Kiwifruit, Actinidia spp., is an important crop worldwide and its cultivation has been increasing in Portugal. Kiwifruit plants are susceptible to plant‐parasitic nematodes (PPNs), including Meloidogyne spp. M. hapla and M. incognita have been reported to affect kiwifruit in major production regions worldwide, although information is lacking on the distribution and identity of PPNs associated with kiwifruit orchards in Portugal. Moreover, research is scarce on the drivers of PPN communities in this crop. Our primary objective was to investigate the diversity, density and distribution of PPNs within kiwifruit orchards of Portugal and to elucidate the influence of environmental factors on their community composition. Additionally, we aimed to evaluate population densities and identity of Meloidogyne spp. Nematodes were extracted from composite soil and root samples collected from orchards. Analysis of soil nematode communities suggested bacterial‐driven decomposition and high nutrient enrichment in these soils. Sixteen different genera of PPNs were detected, with Meloidogyne spp. as the dominant genus, mostly represented by a single species, M. hapla. PPN communities exhibited low richness, and β‐diversity analysis indicated a high degree of similarity among them. Additionally, their composition was significantly influenced by soil and climatic parameters. We found that 37 out of 40 kiwifruit orchards in Portugal were infested by root‐knot nematodes. The unexpectedly low species diversity, dominated by M. hapla, merits further research to establish underlying factors for its high incidence in this crop and to assess the impact of these nematodes on kiwifruit performance and productivity.