Guava root-knot nematode (GRKN, Meloidogyne enterolobii) was detected in Australia in late 2022. This microscopic pest, primarily found in tropical regions, has rapidly spread around the world and is among the most damaging species of root-knot nematodes (RKN).

In Australia, it has been identified in residential gardens and commercial farms in the Northern Territory and a few restricted sites in Queensland. Its potential spread in Australia is uncertain, and its wide host range and lack of resistant cultivars mean that damage can be severe, making it more difficult to control.

This fact sheet covers the symptoms, spread and management of guava root-knot nematode.