摘要 : Pratylenchus spp. are widely known to cause damage to apple trees. A survey was conducted in all the major pome fruit production areas in South Africa, amounting to more than 100 sampling localities. Lesion nematodes detected in t... 展开 Pratylenchus spp. are widely known to cause damage to apple trees. A survey was conducted in all the major pome fruit production areas in South Africa, amounting to more than 100 sampling localities. Lesion nematodes detected in the samples were molecularly identified by PCR amplification and sequencing of the D2-D3 expansion segments of 28S, as well as ITS-rDNA and the cytochrome oxidase gene of mitochondrial DNA (COI). Viable lesion nematodes were handpicked from each sample and transferred to carrot discs for in vitro propagation. A sub-sample of each population was also preserved for morphological identification to species level and taxonomic studies. Pratylenchus hippeastri was detected in most of the sampled regions, except Villiersdorp. In some instances, mixed populations of P. hippeastri, P. vulnus and P. penetrans were found, but P. hippeastri was the most abundant. Morphological and molecular studies confirmed the identity of these species. 收起