Biochemical and molecular identification of root-knot nematodes in greenhouse vegetable areas of Eastern Mediterranean Region (Turkey)

Root-knot nematode surveys were conducted during the growing seasons of 2017 and 2018 to cover the greenhouse vegetable areas in Mersin, Hatay and Adana Provinces in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (Turkey). A total of 46 root-knot nematode populations were characterized using biochemical and molecular diagnostic techniques. DNA extraction was done from second-stage juvenile and in molecular tests using SCAR primers, Meloidogyne arenaria (Neal, 1889) Chitwood, 1949, Meloidogyne javanica (Treub) Chitwood, 1949, Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White, 1919) Chitwood, 1949, Meloidogyne hapla Chitwood, 1949 and Meloidogyne ethiopica Whitehead, 1968 (Tylenchida: Meloidogynidae) species were screened. Samples obtained from thirty-nine regions were identified as M. incognita (85%) and seven as M. javanica (15%). In addition, young females obtained from all regions were biochemically analyzed using the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis diagnostic method. The esterase enzyme profile was examined to identify the M. incognita, M. javanica and M. ethiopica groups. Esterase phenotype I1 band was observed in 62% of M. incognita populations and esterase phenotype I2 band was observed in 39%. Esterase phenotype J3 band was detected in all M. javanica populations. M. javanica and M. incognita were verified and also supported by molecular and biochemical methods in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.