First Report of the Peach Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne floridensis Infecting Almond on Root-Knot Nematode Resistant ‘Hansen 536’ and ‘Bright's Hybrid 5’ Rootstocks in California, USA

In April-August 2018, samples of galled roots with rhizosphere soil were collected from almond orchards in Atwater, Merced County and Bakersfield, Kern County, California. Almond trees (Prunus dulcis) grafted on ‘Hansen 536’ and ‘Brights Hybrid(®)5’ (peach-almond hybrid) rootstocks showed strong symptoms of growth decline. Extracted root-knot nematodes were identified by both morphological and molecular methods as M. floridensis. Meloidogyne floridensis was initially found in Florida, USA, and has not been reported from any other states and countries. This is a first report of M. floridensis in California and outside of Florida.