In the spring of 2019, a cyst nematode was discovered from soil samples collected from an alfalfa field in Millard County, Utah. The soil samples were submitted to one of us (SH), who extracted the nematode cysts and sent them to the USDA-ARS, Mycology and Nematology Genetic Diversity and Biology Laboratory (MNGDBL), Beltsville, MD for morphological and molecular identification. Cysts and living nematode juveniles (J2) recovered from the cysts were examined morphologically and molecularly for species identification which indicated that the specimens were Heterodera medicaginis. This represents the first record of H. medicaginis in Utah and the second report of this nematode in North America.Lavender is a medicinal and aromatic plant that is widely grown in Turkey. Gall symptoms were observed on roots of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) collected from Kırklareli and Edirne provinces. Egg masses were collected from galled roots. DNA isolated from all samples was screened by species-specific primers belonging to the most common species of root-knot nematodes and M. arenaria was the only species that was identified in all of the samples analyzed. This is the first report of M. arenaria infecting lavender in Turkey.Advances in sequencing technologies have accelerated our understanding of the complex genetic network of organisms and genomic divergences that are linked to evolutionary processes. While many model organisms and laboratory strains have been sequenced, wild populations are underrepresented in the growing list of sequenced genomes. Here, we present a de novo assembly of Steinernema feltiae, strain NW, collected from a working agricultural field in south central Washington, USA. Leveraging Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) long reads, we sequenced strain NW to a high depth (99×). The resulting de novo assembly is significantly larger than the previous assembly generated from the laboratory strain SN, with a noticeable improvement in continuity and completeness. Comparative analysis of two assemblies revealed numerous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), breakpoints, and indels present between the two genomes. This alternative genome resource and annotation could benefit the research community to examine the genetic foundation of evolutionary processes as well as genomic variation among conspecific populations.China is one of the largest producers of mulberry in the world. With the development of the sericulture industry, several pests and diseases have occurred in rapid succession, chief among which is the root-knot nematode disease affecting mulberry. According to the China cocoon and silk exchange, cocoon prices have doubled since the beginning of 2009 and rose to 92,700 yuan ($135,770) per tonne in mid-April 2010. According to customs statistics, in the first eight months of 2011, China's silk merchandise exports amounted to 2.39 billion yuan. In this study, sequencing of the rDNA-ITS and D2-D3 region of the 28S rRNA gene was combined with root-knot nematode morphological characteristics to identify the root-knot nematode infecting mulberry in the Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hunan provinces of China. This resulted in the identification of Meloidogyne enterolobii as the causal species of root-knot nematode infections in these regions. Importantly, the morphological data agreed completely with our molecular phenotyping efforts, indicating that rDNA sequencing could provide a more clear-cut and less labor-intensive means of characterizing root-knot nematode infections in the future. The differences between this study and the previous studies were discussed, as well as the damage degree, host species and influence scope of M. enterolobii.Generating DNA markers for microscopic plant parasitic nematodes can be especially difficult if only a few valuable, tiny specimens are available. Providing a reliable maximum amount of unambiguous genetic information from single nematodes is especially important when identifying damaging, regulated nematodes of importance to trade where a few nucleotide differences in diagnostic markers are significant. There are many possible reasons for difficulty amplifying unpurified nematode DNA for long range PCR followed by direct sequencing. Specimen age, proofreading errors and reagent compatibility during PCR are among those problems. selleck chemicals While unsuccessful direct amplification of difficult samples may sometimes be overcome by cloning, a more expensive and time-consuming process. Therefore, long segment PCR of a large 3.5 kb segment of ribosomal DNA was optimized for individual difficult-to-amplify young Litylenchus crenatae mccannii (Anguinidae) nematodes by systematically testing thermostable polymerases, proofreading enzymes and buffers. The combination of thermostable DreamTaq™, proofreading Pfu polymerase, and PicoMaxx™ buffer provided the best results. These nematodes are the subject of surveys currently active at many sites in the northeastern United States. This new, optimized PCR protocol will be useful for diagnostic labs associated with the surveys.Easter lily bulbs for greenhouse forcing are produced in Del Norte County, California and Curry County, Oregon, USA. Pratylenchus penetrans infestation seriously affects growth of field grown bulbs. During two consecutive years of field trials containing 22 treatments, commercially prepared formulations of essential oils (EOs) were compared to an untreated control and to a standard chemical fumigant treatment (FU) (1,3-dichloropropene and metam sodium) applied preplant followed by phorate (PH) at planting to determine their value in the management of lesion nematode, and in improving plant health. The EO products Duogard, EF400, EF300, and Cinnamite were tested as preplant dips to bulblet planting stock. The treated bulblets were tested either alone, in combination with PH at-planting, at planting following FU or in combination with PH at planting following FU. The organophosphates ethoprop and fosthiazate were also tested either alone, or at a reduced rate in combination with a reduced rate of PH. With respect to bulb circumference, ten treatments consistently outperformed the control. In consecutive years, three treatments had healthier looking roots than the control. At harvest, levels of lesion nematode within roots were consistently lower in nine treatments. EOs were beneficial in mitigating nematode damage.