Meloidogyne marylandi

  

Contents

  

Rev 10/24/2023

Maryland Grass Root-knot Nematode Classification Hosts
Morphology and Anatomy Life Cycle
Return to Meloidogyne Menu Economic Importance Damage
Distribution Management
Return to Heteroderidae Menu Feeding  References
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Classification:

      Tylenchida
       Tylenchina
        Tylenchoidea
         Heteroderidae
          Meloidogyninae

        Meloidogyne marylandi Jepson & Golden, 1987

Synonyms:

Review general characteristics of the genus Meloidogyne.


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Morphology and Anatomy:

  • Body color usually pearly white, old specimens sometimes light brown. Shape globular to elongate; neck distinct
  • Head not offset, variable in shape, framework distinct, generally labial cap prominent, and one head annule
  • Stylet short, knobs distinct, rounded, usually sloping posteriorly.
  • Excretory pore usually near base of unprotruded stylet.
  • Body cuticle thick, thinner near anterior end of neck.
  •  Median bulb prominent, usually near base of neck or sometimes posterior.
  • Vulva located on small protuberance.
  • Perineal pattern ovoid to round; striae wavy, coarse well spaced, wavy, usually forming a low, rounded dorsal arch; some patterns with a higher, squarish dorsal arch.
  •  Perivulval region without striae, although occasionally some striae may extend to each end of the vulva.

(ref: Golden, 1989)

Reported median body size for this species (Length mm; width micrometers; weight micrograms) - Click:
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Distribution:

Meloidogyne marylandi was described, in a species complex with M. graminis, infecting Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) in Maryland, USA.  Since reported from several southern U.S. states, and from Japan, Israel and Costa Rica (Scheck, 2019).

 

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Economic Importance:

C-rated pest in California.

Root-knot nematodes (including M. marylandi) have been found parasitizing the grass roots on golf courses, sports fields, and pastures, causing poor growth and yellowing of the leaves (Chiatmbar et al., 2018; Kimmons et al., 1990; Walker, 2014; Salazar et al., 2013).  Unfortunately, in many cases the species have not been identified.

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Feeding:

Sedentary endoparasite.

Feeding site establishment and development typical of genus. 

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Hosts:

Type Host: Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon)

Meloidogyne marylandi reproduces well on wild grasses, turfgrasses, and some grain crops. The original hosts described were Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon � C. transvaalensis), fescue grass (Fescue spp.), and Zoysiagrass (Zoysia matrella) (Jepson and Golden, 1987; Kimmons et al., 1990; Scheck, 2019).

For an extensive host range list for this species, click

 

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Life Cycle:

Ecophysiological Parameters:

For Ecophysiological Parameters for this species, click If species level data are not available, click for genus level parameters

 

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Damage:

Small galls are produced on the roots of infected plants. Galls may occur singly or coalesce to form compounded root swellings. Aboveground symptoms are general and typical of an impaired root system caused by biotic or abiotic factors. Visible symptoms of infection usually include unthriftiness, yellowing of leaves, wilting, defoliation, and reduced growth. Symptoms are most pronounced on Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon � C. transvaalensis) putting greens with a high proportion of sand (Walker, 2014; Jagdale et al., 2019)

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Management:

Resistance

Host Plant Resistance, Non-hosts and Crop Rotation alternatives:

For plants reported to have some level of resistance to this species, click
 
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References:

Chitambar J. J., Westerdahl B. B., Subbotin S. A. 2018. Plant Parasitic Nematodes in California Agriculture. In: Subbotin S., Chitambar J. (eds) Plant Parasitic Nematodes in Sustainable Agriculture of North America. Sustainability in Plant and Crop Protection. Springer, Cham.

Golden, A.M. 1989. Further details and SEM observations on Meloidogyne marylandi (Nematoda: Meloidogynidae). J. Nematology 21:455-461.

Jagdale, G. B., Martinez-Espinoza, A. D., Ye, W., and Habteweld, A. 2019. First report of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne marylandi infecting bermudagrass in Georgia. Plant Disease  103: 5

Jepson, S. B., Golden, A. M. 1987. Meloidogyne marylandi n. sp. (Nematoda: Meloidogynidae), a root-knot nematode parasitizing grasses. In: Jepson, S. B. Ed. Identification of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne species) Wallingford, UK: CABI Publishing. pp. 263�265

Kimmons, C. A., Gwinn, K. D., and Bernard, E. C. 1990. Nematode reproduction on endophyte-infected and endophyte-free tall fescue. Plant Disease 74:757-761

McClure, M. A., Nischwitz, C., Skantar, A. M., Schmitt, M. E., and Subbotin, S. A. 2012. Root-knot nematodes in golf course greens of the western United States. Plant Dis. 96:635-647.

Nischwitz, C., Skantar, A., Handoo, Z. A., Hult, M. N., Schmitt, M. E, and McClure, M. A. 2013. Occurrence of Meloidogyne fallax in North America, and molecular characterization of M. fallax and M. minor from U. S. golf course greens. Plant Disease 97:1424-1430

Oka, Y., Karssen, G., Mor, M. 2004. First report of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne marylandi on turfgrasses in Israel. Plant Disease 88:309

Salazar, L., Gomez, M., Flores, L., and Gomez-Alpizar, L. 2013. First report of Meloidogyne marylandi infecting Bermudagrass in Costa Rica. Plant Disease 97

Scheck, H.J. 2019. California Pest Rating Proposal for Meloidogyne marylandi Jepson and Golden, 1987. CDFA, Sacramento, California, USA.

Starr, J. L., Ong, K. L., Huddleston, M., Handoo, Z. A. 2007. Control of Meloidogyne marylandi on bermudagrass. Nematropica 37: 43�49.

Walker, N. 2014. First report of Meloidogyne marylandi infecting bermudagrass in Oklahoma. Plant Disease 88:1286-1287

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Copyright © 1999 by Howard Ferris.
Revised: October 24, 2023.