Soil and root samples were collected from the rhizoshere of tomato
(Lycopersicon esculuntum Mill.) plants, in the root knot nematodesinfested
fields of Varamin. The top 3 to 5 cm of soil layer was
removed and about 250 cm3 of soil and 10 g of feeder roots were
collected up to a depth of 30 cm . About 10
soil samples were taken from randomly selected fields in each
locality.
The samples were placed in polyethylene bags and brought to
the laboratory for the isolation of Meloidogyne. Single egg mass
was used to establish a population on tomato and cucumber plants.
Eggs were extracted from galled tomato roots using 1.5% NaOCl as
described , collected on a 25 μm
mesh sieve and transferred to a beaker containing tap water.
Hatching of second stage juveniles was stimulated by aerating the
egg suspension with oxygen in the dark for 7 to 10 days. Freshly
hatched second-stage juveniles were separated from the unhatched
eggs using a modified Baermann dish technique. The
species of nematode was identified as M. javanica according to
morphological and morphometrical characters .