First report of Meloidogyne enterolobii on Hosta plantaginea from The Netherlands, with interceptions on other plants from Thailand and Vietnam

Summary Meloidogyne enterolobii is a highly pathogenic, polyphagous root-knot nematode with the ability to overcome common resistance genes and is recognised as a quarantine pest in many countries and regions. During plant quarantine inspections, root-knot nematodes were intercepted on Hosta plantaginea from The Netherlands and multiple ornamental plants including Anthurium sp., Alocasia sp., Caladium sp., Epipremnum sp., Euonymus sp., and Hoya carnosa from Thailand, and a weed ( Bidens pilosa ) and a crop ( Ipomoea batatas ‘Purple’) from Vietnam imported into China. Three developmental stages including eggs, second-stage juveniles (J2), males and females were detected on The Netherlands population, while only J2 were recovered from samples originating in Thailand and Vietnam. Morphological and morphometric analyses were performed on females, males and second-stage juveniles from the H. plantaginea population, and on J2 from the H. carnosa and I. batatas ‘Purple’ populations. Molecular characterisation based on near-full-length 18S rDNA, the D2-D3 expansion domains of 28S rDNA, and ITS rDNA confirmed that all intercepted populations clustered in a well-supported clade with reference sequences of M. enterolobii from diverse geographical origins and hosts. The present study provides the first report of M. enterolobii on H. plantaginea worldwide, and documents association for this nematode species with multiple plant species from Thailand and Vietnam. These interceptions underscore the ongoing phytosanitary risk posed by M. enterolobii and highlight the need for continued surveillance of high-risk plant commodities in international trade.