Identifikasi Nematoda Puru Akar, Meloidogyne graminicola, pada Tanaman Padi di Jawa Barat

Root knot nematodes (RKN), Meloidogyne spp. is one of the most important rice pathogen in some regions in the world. Information of RKN on rice plants in West Java is very important because West Java is one of the largest national rice production center. The purpose of this study was to determine and identify the presence of Meloidogyne spp. on rice plants in West Java. Rice plant samples were taken from 7 rice-growing districts in West Java. Typical symptoms of infected rice plants by Meloidogyne spp. are stunting and the formation of root galls. RKN was found to infect rice plants in several areas in Bogor, Cirebon, and Sukabumi. All stadia of the RKN development which include eggs, second, third, and fourth stage jeveniles, adult females and males were found inside the rice root tissues based on nematode staining observation. Morphometric measurements of the body and stylet length, maximum body width, length of the second stage juveniles, and female perineal pattern, indicated that Meloidogyne species found was M. graminicola.