Nacobbus aberrans sensu lato

The common name for quarantine nematode Nacobbus aberrans (Thorne, 1935) Thorne & Allen, 1944 is the “false root-knot nematode”, as the galls induced by this endoparasitic nematode show a strong morphological similarity to root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne sp.).

Males and young females are migratory endoparasitic, while the mature females induces giant cells and feeds sedentary within root galls. It belongs to a relatively small but agricultural important genus within the Pratylenchidae. This genus is distributed within the Americas, and particular damaging within the Andean region on many hosts, including tomato and potato. Based on host plant preference, DNA studies and crossings on several populations, N. aberrans is considered at present as a complex of different species.