Meloidogyne cruciani n. sp. a Root-knot Nematode from St. Croix (U.S. Virgin Islands) with Observations on Morphology of This and Two Other Species of the Genus.

Meloidogyne cruciani n. sp. infecting tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) in the U.S. Virgin Islands is described and illustrated. M. cruciani is distinguished from other species of the genus by having punctations around the anus of the female and by the second-stage juveniles possessing tri-lobed esophageal glands which are longer than most other species, with their posterier end at about 46.4% of the body length. The esophageal glands of the immature and adult females are contained in five separate lobes.