Revision of the genus Meloidogyne Goldi, 1892 (Nematoda: Heteroderidae) in Europe

The species status of the European root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne Goldi, 1892) was studied. Types of il I. arenaria, M. ardenensis, M. artiellia, M. chitwoodi, M. deconincki, M. duytsi, M. exigua, M. fallax, M. gramimis, M. hapla, M. hispanica, M. incognita, M. javanica, M. kirjanovae, M. kralli, M. litoralis, M. lusitanica, M. maritima and M. naasi were compared, and available living material was used for isozyme tests. It is concluded that the original species descriptions of M. deconincki and M. litoralis were based on a mixture of M. ardenensis and M. hapla; both are considered as junior synonyms of M. ardenensis. No types or populations of M. megriensis were available; it is regarded as a species inquirenda. The occurrence of M. exigua and M. graminis was reviewed; it is not likely that either is native to Europe. Meloidogyne kirjanovae is considered as a junior synonym of M. incognita. An undescribed species from the river Rhine, resembling M. caraganae and M. turkestanica is report ed. Finally the status of the species described by Chitwood (1949) is discussed and a key to the 14 described European species is proposed.