OCCURRENCE AND PATHOGENICITY OF Meloidogyne java']javanica ON TEAK (Tectona grandis Linn. F.) PLANTS

Teak (Tectona grandis) is originated from Asia, and was introduced in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, in the decade of 1970. The analysis of roots collected from Nova Maringa, Mato Grosso state, revealed the presence of the nematode Meloidogyne javanica, that was confirmed by morphometric perineal features of females. The females were extracted from egg masses of teak roots and the nematode was maintained in tomato plants. Because no information is available about this pathosystem, the objective of this study was to evaluate the pathogenicity of Meloidogyne javanica on teak plants. This study showed, that in controlled conditions, teak is a susceptible host to the nematode because the reproduction factor (Pf=final population of nematodes/ Pi) varied from 2.6 to 27. Moreover, the nematode is a teak plant pathogen, because the plants exhibited pronounced symptoms of nutrients deficiency.