Update of the situation of Meloidogyne luci in Slovenia
The NPPO of Slovenia recently updated the EPPO Secretariat concerning the situation of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne luci (EPPO Alert List) on its territory. The nematode was first detected in a glasshouse in Dornberk in 2003 on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) roots in a glasshouse situated in the village of Dornberk and eradicated (EPPO RS 2011/004, 2016/012 and 2017/126). It was found again in 2018 in tomato roots in a glasshouse located in the village of Šmartno near Ljubljana (RS 2018/058) and eradication measures have been applied. Measures are as follow:
- cultivation of Capsicum annuum, and nematode-resistant cultivars of Solanum lycopersicum and S. melongena is possible only in combination with the application of a nematicide during spring/summer;
- poor hosts (Valerianella locusta, Cichorium intybus, Cichorium endivia, Lactuca sativa and Petroselinum crispum) can be grown between October 1st and March 30th;
- underground parts of all plants should be destroyed at the end of the growing season;
- equipment, footwear and machinery used in the infested area should be cleaned to remove soil and plant plants, and disinfected.
Based on the survey results it can be concluded that the measures resulted in the reduction of the M. luci population. The eradication of the pest in the greenhouse is still ongoing. Regular annual surveys for M. luci have confirmed its absence in other parts of Slovenia.
The pest status of Meloidogyne luci in Slovenia is officially declared as: Present, in one location (greenhouse), under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of Slovenia (2022-10).