Distribution and diversity of plant-parasitic nematodes associated with soybean (Glycine max L.) in southwest Ethiopia

Summary Soybean yields in Ethiopia remain below the global average due to various biotic and abiotic challenges. Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) severely reduce yields; however, data on their occurrence, distribution, and diversity in Ethiopia remain scarce. In 2021, a survey conducted across 28 localities in ten major soybean-producing districts in southwest Ethiopia identified seven genera of plant-parasitic nematodes: Helicotylenchus , Hoplolaimus , Meloidogyne , Pratylenchus , Rotylenchulus , Rotylenchus and Scutellonema , and four families: Criconematidae , Heteroderidae , Hoplolaimidae and Pratylenchidae . Molecular analyses using markers such as D2-D3 of 28S rDNA, ITS of rDNA, COI and Nad5 of mtDNA revealed the presence of M. javanica , M. hapla , P. goodeyi , Rotylenchulus borealis and S. clathricaudatum . In the five selected districts, Meloidogyne hapla was the most widely distributed root-knot nematode species, identified in 67% (18 out of 27) of the M. hapla positive samples collected from six localities through molecular analysis. Scutellonema clathricaudatum was recorded for the first time associated with soybean, while M. hapla and R. borealis are reported for the first time in Ethiopian soybean fields. These findings provide valuable insights for developing targeted nematode management strategies to enhance soybean productivity.