New report of Meloidogyne enterolobii in the Netherlands
Meloidogyne enterolobii (EPPO A2 List) was first reported in the Netherlands in January 2023 on ornamental potted plants of Ficus microcarpa from a retail company (EPPO RS 2023/046). Trace back and trace forward activities found further outbreaks of M. enterolobii in 12 production sites (RS 2024/245), which were eradicated by October 2024 (RS 2024/245).
The NPPO of the Netherlands recently informed the EPPO Secretariat that M. enterolobii was found again on its territory. In July 2025, during inspections following a notification from a third country, M. enterolobii was found at one production site (greenhouse) of a company in Westland (Zuid-Holland province) on 51 190 heavily infested potted plants of Chrysalidocarpus lutescens (syn. Dypsis lutescens) originating from El Salvador. Root rotting was observed but no root-knots or above-ground symptoms were reported.
In August 2025, following inspections at another production site of the same company, also in Westland, five lots of C. lutescens tested positive for M. enterolobii with a sixth lot presumed to be infested as it shares a water system with infested lots and plants originated from El Salvador. In total 56 208 plants are in the infested and likely infested lots at the second site. Infestation at the second site was lower than the first production site and no root-knot symptoms were observed. Other host plants in the vicinity were inspected and no symptoms were found.
Eradication measures will be applied including disinfection of the production facilities and the destruction of infested plants. The use of an experimental treatment on the infested plants as an alternative is under consideration. In the Netherlands, all C. lutescens from El Salvador will now be tested to verify the absence of M. enterolobii. The NPPO of the Netherlands considers that the source of infestation is El Salvador. The EPPO Secretariat did not have any records of M. enterolobii in El Salvador. Chrysalidocarpus lutescens was so far not listed as a host plant of M. enterolobii.
The pest status of Meloidogyne enterolobii in the Netherlands is officially declared as: Transient, actionable, under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of the Netherlands (2025-08, 2025-09).