Since 1956 the state of Florida has been implementing Nematology regulatory programs to protect high value crops such as Citrus spp and ornamental plants. The discovery of Radopholus similis, which causes a severe disease called “spreading decline” of citrus, during the 1950s, prompted the state to develop and implement strict phytosanitary and regulatory measures, including quarantine and a citrus nursery certification program to avoid further dissemination of the nematode. This also included two other major citrus pathogens, Pratylenchus coffeae and Tylenchulus semipenetrans. Also, ornamental and other plant nurseries certification programs were implemented to promote the export of plants to both national and international markets. These markets have restrictions against the movement of R. similis and other plant-parasitic nematodes that occur in Florida. Other plant-parasitic nematodes present in Florida, not regulated internally but regulated by other states and countries include Rotylenchulus reniformis and Belonolaimus longicaudatus. Regarding root-knot nematodes occurring in Florida, only Meloidogyne enterolobii is of regulatory concern because its ability to overcome the resistance of Mi-1, N, Rk, Tabasco and in omato, bell pepper, cowpea, sweet pepper and soybean, respectively, as well as other unidentified genes in soybean cultivars. The identification of M. enterolobii using morphological and morphometric characters, molecular markers, such as isozyme phenotypes (esterase and malate dehydrogenase) and mtDNA (C2F3/1108 primer set) will be discussed.

• Janete A. Brito(Division of Plant Industry, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Gainesville, Florida, USA; and Courtesy Faculty, Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida)