Plant parasitic nematodes associated with cucumber cultivation in Lorestan province of Iran

Nematodes are one of the harmful factors for cucumber production in the world. This research was conducted to identify plant parasitic nematodes in cucumber fields and greenhouses in Lorestan province in western Iran.

Eighty-five soil samples containing cucumber roots were collected from different cities of Lorestan province in western Iran. Extraction of nematodes, their fixation and the production of permanent microscopic slides and species identification were carried out using scientific references.

Twenty plant-parasitic nematode species from 12 genera of the order Tylenchina have been identified. The morphological characteristics of Amplimerlinius globigerus and Meloidogyne incognita have been described as the most harmful cucumber nematodes in the province.

Eleven new species of cucumber root-associated nematode for Iran are reported here.