Occurrence and distribution of root-knot nematodes Meloidogyne spp. in SerbiaBačić, Jasmina (Avtor) Lalićević, Ivana (Avtor) Širca, Saša (Avtor) Theuerschuh, Melita (Avtor) Susič, Nik (Avtor) Gerič Stare, Barbara (Avtor) molecular identificationroot-knot nematodesnematodesmorphological identificationdistributionSerbiaThis study examines the occurrence and distribution of root-knot nematodes (RKN), Meloidogyne spp., in Serbia through an official survey conducted from 2021 to 2023. A total of 241 plant and soil samples were collected from 25 districts across two regions: Northern Serbia (Vojvodina Province) and Central Serbia. RKN infestations were detected in 23.7% of the samples. Among the 57 identified populations, 5 Meloidogyne species were recorded: M. incognita, M. hapla, M. luci, M. arenaria and M. javanica. Meloidogyne luci was reported in Serbia for the first time, marking a significant finding for nematology in the region. This study highlights the importance of implementing effective pest management strategies to mitigate the agricultural impact of RKN in Serbia.20252025-02-05 14:12:52Neznano21448sl