NOTES ON TAXONOMY AND BIOLOGY: Female M. paranaensis have a rectangular or oval cuticular perineal pattern with high dorsal arch similar to that of M. incognita. Biochemical techniques provide the most reliable approach for the separation of this species from M. incognita and other coffee root-knot nematodes. This root-knot nematode has sedentary endoparasitic habits. Second-stage juveniles (J2) in the soil penetrate host roots where they establish a specialized feeding site (giant cells) in the stele. As J2 develop, they become swollen females, which produce egg masses protruding from the root surface. Nematode-infected roots exhibit cracking and splitting symptoms without evident galls (Carneiro et al, 1996).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: It has been reported only in Brazil.

HOSTS: Coffee (Coffea arabica) is the primary host of this species. Other hosts include, tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), and watermelon (Citrullu lanatus).

CROP LOSSES: Decline, dieback of coffee trees, and yield suppression up to 50% are associated with nematode infection in Brazil where the damage occurring on coffee in Paraná state was attributed erroneously to M. incognita (Carneiro et al., 1996).

MEANS OF MOVEMENT AND DISPERSAL:  Through root material, soil debris and infected bare root propagative plant material.

RATING: (M) Taking into consideration the economic damage and wide distribution of this nematode in Brazil, and its host range, this nematode was given a moderate priority rating.

REFERENCES:
    Carneiro, R. M. D. G., R. G. Carneiro, I.M. O. Abrantes, M.S.N. de A. Santos, and M. R. A. Almeida. 1996. Meloidogyne paranaensis n.sp. (Nematoa: Meloidogynidae), a root-knot nematode parasitizing coffe in Brazil. Journal of Nematology 28:177-189.