Identification and Characterization of Root-Knot Nematodes Infecting Polygonatum sibiricum and Peucedanum praeruptorum in China

The occurrence of root-knot nematode disease has seriously constrained the development of the Chinese herbal medicine industry. China is one of the largest producers of Polygonatum sibiricum and Peucedanum praeruptorum in the world, but the unidentified root-knot nematodes have become important pests of these two Chinese herbal medicines in China. Both morphological characteristics and molecular identification were used to identify the nematodes. The identification results showed that Meloidogyne incognita and M. arenaria were the causal species of root-knot nematode infection in P. sibiricum, and M. hapla was the causal species of the infection in P. praeruptorum. Through investigation, this is the first report of M. incognita and M. arenaria infecting P. sibiricum, and M. hapla infecting P. praeruptorum, in China. The two Chinese herbs are being severely damaged by various root-knot nematodes, and this damage should be taken seriously.