No known vector.

The presence of M. minor in infested soil can be determined by sampling and extraction of the second-stage juveniles, using a standard nematode extraction procedure for free-living nematodes of this size or techniques used for root-knot nematodes (Baermann trays, Baermann trays with elutriation or sieving, centrifugal flotation, flotation-sieving, semiautomatic elutriation and Cobb decanting and sieving).

In potato, the females are present just below the peel and can cause small dots of brown necrotic tissue on the tuber cortex (Karssen et al., 2004).

On potatoes, Meloidogyne minor causes symptoms very similar to other root-knot nematodes. Root systems infected with M. minor can have pear-shaped galls up to 2 cm (0.787 inches) large. They are more commonly located at the beginning of the lateral roots leading to a thickened root base (Thoden et al., 2012). On tubers, M. minor causes numerous, small, raised areas that are apparent on the tuber surface.

Recently, there have been reports of a yellow-patch disease on turf grass used for golf greens. This disease has been traced to multiple nematode species, including M. minor (McClure et al., 2012). On turf grass, visible symptoms are typically seen in the warmer parts of the year when the grass is actively growing. These symptoms can include stunted growth, wilting, and discolored foliage. This causes the yellow patching on golf greens that gave the disease its name. The location of the patches can vary, and can either remain visible from one season to the next, even while new patches are appearing in other areas. Regardless of whether the patch is visible or not, the actual nematodes remain in the soil throughout the year.

Morphological: Characteristics of the males, females, and juveniles

None. This is a distinctive pest.

Zijlstra (2000) developed a SCAR-PCR to identify M. hapla, M. chitwoodi, and M. fallax. This PCR was designed before the description of M. minor, and subsequent research by Nischwitz et al. (2013) showed that M. minor amplification also occurs and cannot be distinguished from M. fallax amplification. While this SCAR-PCR could be used to detect M. minor, it is not advised to use this protocol if a mixed presence of both M. fallax and M. minor is possible in the same sample.

Karssen et al. (2004) isolated DNA from J2s using the High Pure PCR Template Preperation Kit from Roche with the instructions for the mammalian tissue protocol. After eluting the DNA, they used primers they had developed amplify a specific segment of the internal transcribed spacer region.

De Weerdt et al. (2011) developed a rapid real-time PCR assay to identify M. minor . The amplicon has a product of 64 base pairs.

McClure et al. (2012) lysed J2 (second stage juvenile) specimens and used a Taq Core kit from Qiagen using primers designed to amplify the D2-D3 region of the 28S gene and the internal transcribed spacer region.

There is a commercially available real-time PCR identification kit from Clear®Detections that is specific for Meloidogyne minor that needs to be validated for regulatory use.