17th Meeting of the EPPO Panel on Diagnostics in Nematology

Bari (IT), 2026-01-19/21

The EPPO Panel on Diagnostics in Nematology met in Bari, Italy. This Panel serves as EPPO’s technical body responsible for preparing and reviewing Diagnostic Standards for nematodes. The meeting was attended by 20 Panel members and two observers, and was chaired by Ms Trontin (EPPO Secretariat), with the support of Mr Aoutil (EPPO Secretariat).

Revised EPPO Diagnostic Standards reviewed during the meeting

The Panel reviewed three revised Diagnostic Standards.

PM 7/087 Ditylenchus destructor and D. dipsaci

The Panel reviewed the draft of the Standard prepared by experts from JKE (DE), National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine (UA), Department of Agriculture Food and Marine (IE), and GEVES (FR). The main discussion points included adding a note on changes in taxonomy, deleting one molecular test, and discussion on DNA extraction procedures. A new version that takes into account the discussions of the Panel will be prepared and sent for the first stage of country consultation.

PM 7/103 Meloidogyne enterolobii

The Panel discussed the draft of the Standard prepared by experts from KIS (SI), Fera Science Ltd (GB) and NVWA-NIVIP (NL). The main discussion points included adding the possibility to perform detection of M. enterolobii directly in soil to the flow diagram, including photos of symptoms in the butterfly palm (Dypsis lutescens), the use of barcoding for identification, update of the isozyme electrophoresis appendix and the need for further clarification on the conventional PCR Whishart et al. (2022). A revised version incorporating the Panel’s discussions will be prepared for review by the Panel in an online meeting.

PM 7/005 Nacobbus aberrans sensu lato

The Panel reviewed the draft of the Standard prepared by experts from ANSES (FR), and Agroscope (CH). The main discussions focused on using N. aberrans sensu lato in the Standard, the deletion of Appendix 1 describing a conventional PCR (Atkins et al., 2005), and the possibility to include measurements of characters of N. dorsalis. A new version that takes into account the discussions of the Panel will be prepared, further reviewed by the Panel by email and sent for the first stage of country consultation.

The progress made on the revision of the following Standards were also discussed:

PM 7/041 Meloidogyne chitwoodi and M. fallax: An expert from NVWA-NIVIP (NL) suggested removing some molecular tests from the current version, as they are not used by members of the Panel. It was also discussed that a real-time PCR test developed by ANSES could be added. In addition, isozyme electrophoresis for the identification of M. chitwoodi and M. fallax was discussed. A new version of this Standard will be prepared and reviewed by the Panel in an online meeting.

PM 7/039 Aphelenchoides besseyi: An expert from GEVES (FR) presented improvements to the extraction procedure and molecular testing on rice for Aphelenchoides besseyi. The Panel discussed the proposed taxonomic changes and agreed that the Standard should focus on the detection and identification of Aphelenchoides besseyi sensu lato. The Panel also agreed to retain the polytomous key in the revision. A draft revised Standard will be prepared for the next Panel meeting.

New EPPO Diagnostic Standards reviewed during the meeting

The Panel reviewed three new Diagnostic Standards.

PM 7/NEW Meloidogyne ethiopica and Meloidogyne luci

The Panel reviewed the draft of the Standard prepared by experts from INIAV (PT), KIS (SI), and the Institute for Plant Protection and Environment (RS). The main discussion points included adding pictures of symptoms, aligning the text with other Meloidogyne Standards, deciding which molecular tests to recommend in the Standard; and adding a figure on isozyme electrophoresis. A new version that takes into account the discussions of the Panel will be prepared, further reviewed by the Panel by email and sent for the first stage of country consultation.

PM 7/NEW Litylenchus crenatae

The Panel reviewed the draft of the Standard prepared by experts from ILVO (BE), Fera Science Ltd (GB), USDA (US), and Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences (US). The discussion focused on the possibility to use a PCR test for direct detection on plant tissue, on the need to explain some morphological terms in the glossary, and on the use of barcoding for identification. A new version that takes into account the discussions of the Panel will be prepared, further reviewed by the Panel by email and sent for the first stage of country consultation.

PM 7/NEW DNA barcoding as an identification tool for a number of regulated nematodes

The Panel reviewed the draft of the Standard prepared by experts from Agroscope (CH), INIAV (PT), JKI (DE), Fera Science Ltd (GB), and NVWA-NIVIP (NL). The main discussions included modifications to the introduction section, the use of barcoding for the identification of some species complexes, and the need to add a warning on the use of COI for Globodera pallida. A new version that takes into account the discussions of the Panel will be prepared and sent for country consultation.

Plans for future revisions of Diagnostic Standards

The Panel agreed to prepare a corrigendum for the Standard PM 7/119 Nematode extraction. The Panel agreed also to revise the Pictorial Glossary of Morphological Terms in Nematology to define new terms.

17th Meeting of the EPPO Panel on Diagnostics in Nematology

Bari (IT), 2026-01-19/21

Revised EPPO Diagnostic Standards reviewed during the meeting

New EPPO Diagnostic Standards reviewed during the meeting

Plans for future revisions of Diagnostic Standards

Other topics