Identification of Root-knot Nematode ( Meloidogyne spp. Goeldi, 1887) (Tylenchida: Meloidogynidae) Species in Celery ( Apium graveolens L.) (Apiaceae) Growing Areas of Çanakkale Province

In this study, the species and extensiveness of root-knot nematodes ( Meloidogyne spp. Goeldi, 1887) (Tylenchida: Meloidogynidae) causing yield loss in the celery ( Apium graveolensL.) L.) (Apiaceae) production areas of & Ccedil;anakkale were determined. For this purpose, celery plant roots and soil samples were taken by making non-periodical surveys of a total of 75 different celery growing areas in & Ccedil;anakkale province and districts in 2020-2021. Females of root-knot nematodes and second-stage juveniles (J2s) from egg masses were obtained from celery samples brought to the laboratory. Morphological identification of root-knot nematode species was done by making sections obtained from perineal regions of female individuals and morphometric measurements were performed from J2s for each population. For molecular identification, DNA was then extracted from samples and analyzed by species-specific primers referring to the most common Meloidogyne spp. Meloidogyne javanica (Treub, 1885) Chitwood,1949 in 9 samples, and M. arenaria (Neal, 1889) in 5 samples were determined based on morphologic-morphometric and molecular methods. The result of the study indicated that the rate of root- knot nematode infestation in celery cultivation areas in & Ccedil;anakkale was 18,6%. The infestation rates of M. javanica and M. arenaria determined in celery growing areas in the province were 12% and 6.6%, respectively. In this study, M. javanica and M. arenaria species were detected for the first time in the celery fields of & Ccedil;anakkale province.