- Classification: Animalia, Nematoda, Adenophorea, Tylenchida, MELOIDOGYNIDAE
- English name: Root-knot nematodes
 

Root-knot nematodes were discovered in the 1850s. The genus Meloidogyne comprises about 100 species. These are extremely polyphagous sedentary endoparasites that attack zucchini on which Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood is the most widely reported species. There are also other species such as M. ethiopica , M. javanica ...

Root-knot nematodes are widespread worldwide and affect several thousand plants. The Meloidogyne are by far the most common and most harmful on Cucurbitaceae; their damage, sometimes considerable, has been reported in many countries, both in field crops and under cover. In the latter, the losses recorded are often more consequent because of the impossibility of carrying out rotations.

Given the polyphagia of these nematodes on vegetable crops, they are found in France in the soils of many farms, particularly in the past market gardening. Their effects are serious on farms where crop rotation management and soil sanitary quality are not good. The disappearance of methyl bromide and the absence of truly effective alternative methods are gradually leading to an increase in the importance of nematode problems on vegetable crops.