First report of Meloidogyne fallax in the USA
In recent years, root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) have emerged as important pests on golf course greens in the Western USA. During a survey carried out from 2008 to 2011 in 238 golf courses in 7 states, the following 5 species were found: Meloidogyne chitwoodi (EPPO A2 List), M. graminis, M. marylandi, M. minor and M. naasi. At the end of 2011, samples were received from golf courses in King county (Washington state) and San Francisco county (California). The isolate from Washington was identified as M. minor however, the isolate from California was identified as M. fallax (EPPO A2 List), which represented the first record of this nematode species in the USA. The initial morphological identification was confirmed by molecular methods.
The situation of Meloidogyne fallax in the USA can be described as follows: Present, first found in 2011 in soil samples from golf courses in California (San Francisco county).
Sources
Nischwitz C, Skantar A, Handoo ZA, Hult MN, Schmitt ME, McClure MA (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(11), 1424-1430.