Detection of guava root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne enterolobii infecting Psidium guajava orchards in Homestead, Florida

Guava is a nutritious and profitable high-yield crop. Guava root-knot nematode (GRKN), M. enterolobii Yang & Eisenback, 1983 (= M. mayaguensis Rammah & Hirschmann, 1988), cause detrimental damage in guava orchards in more than 15 countries. Fifteen guava orchards in Homestead, Florida, were randomly sampled to check for potential plant-parasitic nematode damage to the trees. The guava RKN, M. enterolobii, was detected in 80% of the sampled orchards, causing damage to white and pink guava. Morphological and molecular analyses confirmed the identification of nematode species, and the host pathogenicity test showed the guava’s susceptibility to M. enetrolobii.