Revision of the genus Meloidogyne Goldi, 1892 (Nematoda: Heteroderidae) in Europe

The species status of the European root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne G61di, 1892) was studied. Types of M. arenaria, M. ardenensis, M. artiellia, M. chitwoodi, M. deconincki, M. duytsi, M. exigua, M. fallax, M. gramimis, M. hapla, M. hispanica, M. incognita, M. javanica, M. kirjanovae, M. kralli, M. litoralis, M. lusitanica, M. maritima and M. naasi were compared, and available living material was used for isozyme tests. It is concluded that the original species descriptions of M. deconincki and M. litoralis were based on a mixture of M. ardenensis and M. hapla; both are considered as junior synonyms of M. ardenensis. No types or populations of M. megriensis were available; it is regarded as a specie.s inquirenda. The occurrence of M. exigua and M. gramini,s was reviewed; it is not likely that either is native to Europe. Meloidogyne kirjanovae is considered as a junior synonym of M. incognita. An undescribed species from the river Rhine, resembling M. caraganae and M. turke.stanica is reported. Finally the status of the species described by Chitwood (1949) is discussed and a key to the 14 described European species is proposed