First report of Rotylenchulus reniformis infecting turmeric in Vietnam and consequent damage

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) is one of the common medicinal crops of high economical value in Vietnam. A survey in the Central Highlands of Vietnam revealed a turmeric growing area showing serious disease symptoms, including stunting of the plant, yellowing or darkening of the leaf margins and tips, and underdeveloped dry and rotten rhizomes. An inspection for plant pathogens in soil samples from this area revealed a high density and frequency of Rotylenchus reniformis, with a significant relationship between the density of R. reniformis, rhizome weight, and level of plant damage. This study provides the first report of R. reniformis found in parasitic association with turmeric in Vietnam with the support of molecular data and examines its resulting damage.