Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia), also commonly referred to as Bitter Gourd, Balsam Pear, Bitter Cucumber, and African Cucumber is a vegetable consumed in most Asian countries with many culinary and herbal medicine uses (Basch et al. 2003; Behera et al. 2010). In Australia, Bitter Melon is grown mainly in the Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales and in smaller quantities in other states to meet local market demand (Morgan and Midmore 2002). Bitter Melon production in the Northern Territory has steadily increased as a result of increased plantings by new Asian growers (Smith 2001) and is an important crop in the Asian vegetable industry (Midmore et al. 2004).

In September 2011, diseased Bitter Melon plants showing above-ground symptoms of wilting and dying (Fig. 1) were observed on a farm at Buckley Road, Humpty Doo, Darwin. These symptoms could have been due to several root pathogens, of which nematodes were only one. The root systems of the plants were examined and found to be heavily infected with root-knot nematodes (100 % of root system) forming large coalescing root galls (Fig. 2). The infected root samples were sent to CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences in Canberra, for root-knot nematode species diagnosis.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Wilting and drying out of Bitter Melon caused by Meloidogyne incognita. Other pathogens or environmental stress may cause similar symptoms either alone or in combination with nematodes, however nematodes are often overlooked in searching for the cause of these symptoms

Full size image
Fig. 2
figure 2

Bitter Melon root system showing heavy root galling, characteristic of Root-Knot Nematodes. Although characteristic of the genus Meloidogyne, diagnosis to species requires examination of the nematodes

Full size image

Female nematodes were dissected from the infected roots and processed for morphological examination as outlined in Shurtleff and Averre (2000). Male and juvenile specimens were obtained from the infected roots by cutting the roots into small pieces and incubating them at room temperature (22 °C) for 48 h in a Petri dish half filled with distilled water. Identifications were confirmed on specimens fixed in formaldehyde for 2 weeks, then processed to glycerol by the slow method and mounted on permanent slides (Hooper 1986). The slides are deposited in the Australian National Nematode Collection held within the ANIC at CSIRO in Canberra. The morphological features of the female, male and juvenile specimens (presented below) matched the most recent description for Meloidogyne incognita provided in Hunt and Handoo (2009). Measurements: mean ± standard error (μm) Female (N = 10) length = 570 ± 65, diameter = 340 ± 50, stylet length = 15 ± 0.5, stylet basal knobs rounded and offset and body pear shaped without any posterior protuberance. Typical perineal pattern oval shape, high squared dorsal arch, striae wavy lateral field absent (Fig. 3). Male (N = 1) length = 1375, stylet length = 24, spicule = 29, gubernaculum length = 12, labial region not offset, labial disc elevated, basal knobs offset, rounded. Juvenile (N = 5) length = 365 ± 30, stylet length = 11 ± 0.5, tail length = 49 ± 5, hyaline tail length = 9.8 ± 0.4, hemizonid anterior to excretory pore, tail tip rounded.

Fig. 3
figure 3

Typical M. incognita perineal pattern showing high squared dorsal arch, wavy striae and lateral field absent. Scale bar = 22 μm

Full size image

In addition to M. incognita, eight other Meloidogyne species have been recorded in Australia and can be distinguished from each other based on a combination of morphological characteristics (Table 1). M. javanica, the other common root-knot species in the Northern Territory, can be distinguished easily from M. incognita on the basis of female perineal pattern.

Table 1 Diagnostic characteristics of Meloidogyne species recorded in Australia
Full size table

M. incognita is highly pathogenic on Bitter Melon elsewhere (Anwar and McKenry 2010; Chandra et al. 2010; Chen and Tsay 2006). Hence it could become a damaging pest of Bitter Melon in the Northern Territory. The use of green manure (Sudax sorghum) in the Northern Territory and soil amendments (saw dust and chicken manure) by Queensland ginger growers to manage root knot nematodes has had some success and could be investigated further as a management option (Conde et al. 1999). Further studies on root-knot nematodes in the Northern Territory will be necessary to determine whether there are other species of nematodes causing damage to Bitter Melon, to assess crop losses and to develop better management strategies.

The authors thank Mr. Stuart Smith and Mr. Mark Traynor (Department of Resources, Northern Territory Government) for collection of root samples and Ms. Lois Ulyatt (Department of Resources, Northern Territory Government) for preparation and dispatch of samples from Darwin. The authors acknowledge the support of the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Program.