author(s)
Kanwar Pallavi Singh, Anju S Khanna and Hema

abstract
The present study was conducted during the period of 2015-16 (June-September) to characterize morphological profiles of Meloidogyne javanica from Papaya and Pumpkin in Himachal Pradesh, India. Affected plants displayed poor growth and significant galling on roots. Serious infections resulted in formation of large numbers of galls, wilted leaves, root rot, and then plant death. Morphological as well as morphological studies were carried out for confirmation of referred species. The present specimens have greater body length (550-789 vs. 541-804 µm), body width (320-550 µm vs. 311-581 µm) and longer spear length (16-22 vs. 14-20 µm) as compared to the earlier described populations by several authors. Morphometrics and female perineal pattern of the isolates fit within the ranges for M. javanica. Perineal patterns were oval to squarish in shape, usually with coarse, broken striae and with conspicuous lateral lines. Females had robust stylet with a dorsally curved cone and large transversely ovoid knobs that are offset from the shaft. This species of root-knot nematode was reported for first time from the state.