The Present Position in the Systematics of Meloidogyne

The genus Meloidogyne includes 32 species. The main character used for differentiation is the posterior cuticular pattern of the female. This is difficult to define and often variable but in most species it is characteristic. The body length and length and shape of the tails of the larvae, and the head characters of males, can also be used in identification of some species. The morphological and physiological variability in the commonest species is so great as to suggest that they may be species complexes or that evolution may be proceeding at an observable rate. This results in some uncertainty in the systematics.