Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are more and more frequently found associated with bananas in the Antilla, in place of Radopholus similis in the root system, especially on plants issued from micro-propagated plants after fallows. Considering in some cases the high level of these root-knot infestations, it seemed interesting to know what species were involved in order to develop appropriate nematode management methods. Root-knot populations from thirty-one banana plantations in Martinique (ten females per site) were dissected from the roots and characterized by their esterase and malate dehydrogenase patterns. They were obtained with an automated electrophoretic system (Phastsystem®, Pharmacia). Results showed that only 3 phenotypes combinations (EST-MDH) were found, corresponding to : M. incognita (I2-N1 in 33.9%), M.arenaria type 1 (A2-N1 in 62.9%) and M. arenaria type 2 (A2-N3 in 3.2%). Twenty-one fields showed a monospecific infestation and it is interesting to notice that the highest infestation levels occurred with M. arenaria (> 100 000 J 2/ 100 g roots), 4 times higher than with M. incognita (> 20 000 J2/ 100 g roots).