Meloidogyne arenaria infecting Matricaria chamomilla in Brazil

Plants of Matricaria chamomilla L. (Asteraceae), well-known medicinal species, showing root galls, were collected in Pelotas, state of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil). Based on morphological (perineal patterns and males), morphometric (males) and esterase phenotypes (Est A2), we identified the infecting nematode as the root-knot nematode M. arenaria. Under greenhouse conditions, four M. chamomilla plants were inoculated with about 1000 specimens obtained from the isolate. We observed about 207 & PLUSMN; 72 nematodes g(-1) of roots, confirming its pathogenicity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first record of M. arenaria parasitizing M. chamomilla in Brazil and elsewhere.