Forty-four populations of Meloidogyne spp. obtained from a root-knot nematode survey on kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa) orchards and nurseries in Rio Grande do Sul State were characterized biochemically using esterase isoenzyme (Est). Meloiodgyne arenaria Est A2 (Rm: 1.20, 1.28) was the most frequent species detected in this survey, occurring in 66.65% of the samples. Meloiodgyne ethiopica, with the phenotype E3 (Rm: 0.92, 1.10, 1.30) was detected in 16.66% of the samples in association with other Meloidogyne species. Other species found were M. javanica Est J3 (Rm: 1.00, 1.21, 1.35), M. hapla Est H1 (Rm: 1.17), M. incognita I1 (Rm: 1.03) and I2 (Rm: 1.03, 1.10) identified in 29.9%, 16.66%, 3.33% and 9.79% of the samples, respectively. Only one atypical population presenting the phenotype L3 (Rm: 1.00, 1.10, 1.30) occurred in one orchard (3.33%) but its identification was not possible even through the examination of the perineal patterns of females.
Actinidia deliciosa; isoenzyme esterase; root-knot nematode
