A report of meloidogyne arenaria parasitizing plantain (Musa spp., AAB) in Nigeria

Extensive root galling observed on plantain (Musa spp., AAB) in Nigeria was analysed using Nad5 mitochondrial DNA sequences and the causal agent identified as Meloidogyne arenaria. Following the inoculation of population cultured, Koch’s postulates was fulfilled and the same symptoms observed. This provides the first molecular confirmation of M. arenaria causing such damage to plantain and highlighting its potential as a threat to the crop. Root knot nematodes are known to affect banana and plantain production but diagnosis of the species involved is only just being accurately determined with the recent improvements in molecular techniques.