Guava root-knot nematode

Summary

Guava root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne enterolobii) is a serious pest of many agricultural crops. It has a very wide host range and attacks plant roots, causing galling and reducing yields. The damage it causes increases the plant’s susceptibility to secondary diseases such as root rots.

Guava root-knot nematode (GRKN) was discovered for the first time in Australia in the Northern Territory (NT) in October 2022, then in Queensland in December 2022 and again in February 2023. It is currently not present in New South Wales. Countries with the pest include Central and South America, Africa, Asia, and some European countries.