Meloidogyne javanica and its management on Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) fields

Thymus vulgaris (L.) is one of the most important medicinal plants. In addition to medicinal uses, thyme is also used in food, health and cosmetics industries. Due to Thymol and Carvacrol, its essential oils has antifungal and antibacterial effects. Meloidogyne spp. have been reported from all over the world on medicinal plants. They are the most important genus among plant parasitic nematodes and one of the five major pathogens in the world. During a survey in 2021, thyme plants with withering, foliage yellowing and stunting symptoms and plant death were observed in some regions of Khorasan-Razavi province (Iran). Root and soil samples were collected from areas of thyme fields. Morphological diagnosis was conducted on larves and perineal pattern of females. Finally, the species identification of M. javanica was confirmed using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). In recent years, due to the increase in the area under cultivation of medicinal plants, the extensive use of medicinal plants and few studies in this field on medicinal plants in Iran, development of new systems for detection, identification and monitoring can play a vital role in effective management of plant parasitic nematodes in medicinal plants. Therefore, the aim of this study is detection and identification of the nematode disease agent, affecting thyme plants and its management.