First report of Meloidogyne hapla on Paulownia tomentosa in Poland

Meloidogyne spp. are serious pests on many economically important plants, including food crops, vegetables, ornamental trees, and shrubs. Galled roots of Paulownia tomentosa Steud were collected from a plantation in the 2018 growing season in Poland. Morphological, morphometric, and molecular studies revealed the presence of Meloidogyne hapla in root systems and root zones of empress trees. To our knowledge, this is the first record of the occurrence of this nematode species on Paulownia tomentosa in Poland, as well as in Europe.