A comparative investigation of aggressive pathogenesis by guava root-knot nematode Meloidogyne enterolobii

Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are major contributors to crop losses worldwide, with root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) recognized as the most economically damaging group. Among them, Meloidogyne enterolobii - once regarded as a minor pathogen - has recently emerged as a highly aggressive species capable of breaking host resistance effective against other Meloidogyne spp. Despite its increasing global relevance, the mechanisms underlying its enhanced virulence remain poorly understood. Here, we present a novel comparative analysis of the biology and pathogenicity of M. enterolobii and M. incognita, integrating life cycle assessments with in silico proteome comparisons. Experimental infection on tomato revealed that M. enterolobii juveniles (J2s) penetrated roots in significantly higher numbers (116.67 vs. 50.33 J2s) by 3 days post-inoculation and established more females (31.67 vs. 6.67) by 12 days, compared to M. incognita. Infected roots exhibited larger and more numerous galls in M. enterolobii-infested plants. Notably, genome-level comparisons showed that M. enterolobii encodes a substantially larger repertoire of excretory/secretory proteins (590 vs. 215) and effector proteins (∼19,126 vs. 7684), highlighting its expanded molecular toolkit for host manipulation. This is the first integrated study combining biological assays with proteome-wide analysis to provide mechanistic insights into the aggressive pathogenesis of M. enterolobii. These findings advance our understanding of root-knot nematode virulence and lay the groundwork for targeted management strategies against this emerging threat.