Source: NCSU COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, 10/12/18

On Friday, October 5, 2018, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services released a press statement outlining a quarantine for the guava root knot nematode (Meloidogyne enterolobii). After reaching out for clarification, NCDA&CS indicated that, as of right now, this current quarantine will largely only affect sweetpotato seed potatoes and slips and will not include ornamental sweetpotato from greenhouse production. The language of the decree allows for NCDA&CS to expand the quarantine for other potential sources of this nematode should they deem it necessary. For field crops and tobacco, this will be of minimal consquence; however, many of the tobacco and field crops are rotated with sweetpotato. Because the guava root knot nematode is aggresive, managing the guava root knot nematode within the state will be incredibly important to limit the spread to new counties to limit the impact on sweetpotato production. Expect more updates from the extension pathology team as the situation with quarantines for this nematode develops.

Guava Root Knot Nematode
The guava root knot nematode was found in North Carolina in 2011 on soybean and cotton. This nematode affects a number of NC crops, including tobacco, cotton, soybean, sweet potato, and other vegetable crops. This nematode is now confirmed in 8 counties (Figure 1). This nematode is more aggressive than other species of root knot nematode, but it is not possible to differentiate between root knot species on physical symptoms alone. Symptoms, similar to other root knot nematodes, include stunting and yellowing of aboveground portions of the plant (Figure 2) and root galls (Figure 3).

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