First integrative characterisation of the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne luci infecting chickpea (Cicer arietinum) in Ethiopia

Summary A population of Meloidogyne luci , previously detected during a 2021 survey of nematodes associated with chickpea in Ethiopia, was maintained on tomato plants and characterised through morphological analysis, multiple molecular markers and complete mitogenome sequencing. Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analyses of the D2-D3 region of the 28S rDNA, ITS rDNA, and mtDNA ( Nad5 , cox2 and cox1 ) revealed limited resolution in distinguishing M. luci from closely related species such as M. ethiopica , M. inornata and M. hispanica , underscoring the challenges of differentiating these taxa using partial gene sequences. Complete mitogenome sequencing yielded an 18 702 bp genome with 99.9% identity to the M. luci reference mitogenome. The genome comprised 11 open reading frames, 8 tRNAs, 2 rRNAs, and additional repeat regions, including extra genes such as atp6 and trnM . A host status test confirmed the susceptibility of the chickpea cultivar ‘Arerti’ to M. luci , indicating that this highly polyphagous nematode poses a potential threat to chickpea production in Ethiopia.