FIRST REPORT OF MELOIDOGYNE INCOGNITA INFECTING CANNABIS SATIVA IN FLORIDA, USA

Abstract

Cannabis sativa (hemp) roots with small to medium galls were collected from a field in Gadsden County, Quincy, Florida in October 2020. Morphological characteristics of perineal patterns of mature females and second-stage juveniles were identified as Meloidogyne incognita. The species was also confirmed by species-specific primers Mi-F/Mi-R, and the mitochondrial COXII region with amplification of a PCR product using the primers C2F3/1108 which were sequenced to confirm the morphological identification. This is the first report of M. incognita on hemp in Florida.