Twenty one populations of Meloidogyne javanica collected from roots of four different host plants in different regions of Khorasan Razavi province, north east of Iran, were studied by statistical analysis based on 27 morphometrical characters of females, J2s and perineal pattern. Morphological studies were confirmed by species specific primers. PCA analysis separated the different populations, however no geographical or host patterns were observed. Cluster analysis confirmed these results. Statistical analysis showed 86% similarity in morphometrical characters, revealed for the first time in this study. The genetic diversity of populations was studied by RAPD with ten primers, showing 92.6% similarity. The results of Mantel test, which has been used for searching correlation between morphometrical and genetic diversity, revealed low values between the two data sets. The present study demonstrated morphological and genetic variations among populations of M. javanica and that such variations are little influenced by geographical origin of nematodes and/or their host plants.

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