First report of Meloidogyne luci in Ethiopia
During surveys conducted throughout 2021 in Ethiopia, specimens of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne luci (EPPO A2 List) were found infecting the roots of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) in Minjar district, Amhara region. The presence of M. luci was confirmed using molecular techniques and Koch’s postulates were confirmed. Chickpea had previously been shown to be good host in inoculation trials, but this is the first report of natural infection in C. arietinum. This is the first record of M. luci in Africa.
Sources
Kefelegn H, Couvreur M, Meressa BH, Wesemael WM, Teklu MG, Bert W (2025) First report of the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne luci parasitizing chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in Ethiopia. Plant Disease (early view) https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-01-25-0096-PDN