Characterization of Meloidogyne incognita populations from São Paulo and Minas Gerais state and their pathogenicity on coffee plants

Meloidogyne incognita is one of the most aggressive and harmful plant-parasitic nematodes attacking coffee plantations in Brazil. However, populations from Minas Gerais state (MG) do not incite disease on coffee plants as strongly as populations from Sao Paulo state (SP). This study aimed to compare the capacity to incite disease on coffee plants from SP and MG-populations based on penetration and post-infective development of second-stage juveniles (J2) stage. Both populations were confirmed as M. incognita by using esterase phenotype I1 and species-specific PCR. Physiologically they were classified as race 2 by differential host test. Susceptible (C. arabica 'Catuai Vermelho IAC 44') and resistant coffee seedlings (C. canephora 'Apoata IAC 2258') were inoculated with J2 and assessed for penetration and development from 2nd to 40th day after inoculation. Although the penetration rate of the J2 from both populations was higher in susceptible than in resistant seedlings, the SP-population showed a higher penetration than the MG-population for both variables. Post-infective development proceeded only in individuals of the SP-population in susceptible seedlings. The incompatibility between the MG-population and coffee seedlings was evident at the penetration phase, which was also followed by post-penetration resistance factors leading to significant J2 emigration, impeding nematode establishment.