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Summary: Discocriconemella sinensis n. sp. isolated in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, from the rhizosphere of Camellia sinenis is described. The new species was characterised morphologically and molecularly. Important morphological details were elucidated by SEM photographs. The new species is characterised by an uninterrupted rounded cephalic disc, en face showing a rectangular labial plate with slit-like oral apertures, labial plate surrounded by slightly elevated projections resembling rudimentary lobes, R = 66 (64-69), Rex = 21 (17-24), stylet 74 (67-81) μ m long, excretory pore located at the base of the pharyngeal bulb, vulva open, tail short and conoid with a lobed terminus. The species belongs to the group 1 lip pattern. Morphologically, it is most similar to D. discolabia , D. mauritiensis , D. mineira and D. perseae. This is the first new Discocriconemella species described from China. Phylogenetic analyses based on analysis of the D2-D3 expansion segments of the 28S rRNA, ITS rRNA, partial 18S rRNA, and COI gene revealed that the new species formed a separate clade from other criconematid species, thereby supporting its status as a new species of the genus. The new species showed close relationships with Criconemoides informis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Scutellonema contains more than 40 species of spiral nematodes with enlarged phasmids called scutella. In this study, we provide morphological and molecular characterisation of S. clavicaudatum sp. n., S. brachyurus, S. bradys, S. cavenessi, S. transvaalense, S. truncatum and Scutellonema sp. A. from North and Central America, and Africa. The new species, S. clavicaudatum sp. n., was found on sugarcane in South Africa and is characterised by a lack of lip annuli as in S. africanum, S. siamense and S. truncatum. The lip region, in both males and females, is conical and marked by six large rectangular blocks separated or fused with the submedian and lateral lip sectors, which surround a round and distinct labial disc. Females of this new species also have large vaginal glands, a functional spermatheca, the lateral field posterior to the scutellum ending in a bluntly pointed shape and a clavate tail. Morphological descriptions, measurements, light and scanning electron microscopic photos and drawings are also given for S. bradys, S. cavenessi, S. transvaalense and S. truncatum. The study of spiral nematode samples from Florida, USA, confirmed the presence of a morphologically and genetically atypical populations of S. bradys. The morphology of the S. bradys population from Bermuda grass in pasture land from central Florida fits that of type specimens of this species, but differs in having a truncate tail terminus rather than round and also a prominent spermatheca filled with flagellate spermatozoa. Other Florida Scutellonema samples analysed in this study belonged to S. cavenessi, a species native to West Africa. This is the first report of S. cavenessi in Florida, where it parasitises the ornamental plant Sansevieria trifasciata. Our study showed a high level of intraspecific variation for Scutellonema rRNA and mtDNA genes, which can reach 5.6% for the D2-D3 of 28S rRNA, 12.9% for the ITS rRNA genes and 14.4% for the COI gene. Phylogenetic relationships within Scutellonema are given as inferred from the analyses of the D2-D3 of 28S rRNA, ITS rRNA and the COI mtDNA gene sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amphimictic populations of root-lesion nematodes with numerous males and females having three lip annuli, a functional spermatheca and non-areolated lateral field occur on sword fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) in Florida. Identified for decades as Pratylenchus penetrans, they appeared to be a morphologically separated species on the basis of a longer stylet (17.8-18.3 µm) than P. penetrans (15-17 µm) and different lip pattern in enface view (rectangular vs dumb-bell in P. penetrans). Morphologically similar amphimictic root-lesion nematodes have also been detected on flax lily in Costa Rica. Subsequent morphological observations indicated that these amphimictic root-lesion nematodes from fern and flax lily are closely related to the parthenogenetic species P. bolivianus, which has areolated lateral fields. In spite of the reproductive and morphological dissimilarities between these populations, their separation into different species was not supported by the results of molecular analyses of their DNA sequences. The populations used in these analyses included those that are amphimictic from Florida and Costa Rica and others that are parthenogenetic from the type locality in Bolivia, and geographically distant localities in Chile, China, Colombia and Europe. Phylogenetic analyses of the ITS and D2-D3 expansion segments of the 28S rRNA gene indicated that they belong to the same species, P. bolivianus, which consists of two morphotypes, P. bolivianus (am) amphimictic and P. bolivianus (pm) parthenogenetic, herein described and illustrated. Contradictory results were obtained by the analyses using a portion of the hsp90 gene. The phylogenetic study, which included sequences of other root-lesion nematodes, a topotype and geographical distant populations of P. zeae, revealed that P. bolivianus and P. zeae formed highly supported clades in the majority consensus trees. PCR with species-specific primers for rapid diagnostics of P. bolivianus and P. zeae were developed and tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reniform nematodes of the genus Rotylenchulus are semi-endoparasites of numerous herbaceous and woody plant roots and are mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. In this study, we provide morphological and molecular characterisation of six out of ten presently known valid species of Rotylenchulus: R. clavicaudatus, R. leptus, R. macrodoratus, R. macrosoma, R. renifonnis and R. sacchari from South Africa, USA, Italy and Spain. Rotylenchulus parvus was only studied morphologically. A new species, R. macrosomoides sp. n., isolated from soil and roots of sugarcane in South Africa, is described. The phylogeny of Rotylenchulus, as inferred from the analyses of D2-D3 of 28S rRNA, ITS rRNA, coxI mtDNA and hsp90 gene sequences, is presented. The study revealed that R. reniformis and R. macrosoma have a sister relationship, but that relationships between other Rotylenchulus species remain unresolved. The phylogenetic analysis also confirmed the hypothesis that this genus originated from the Afrotropical zoogeographical region. Our study revealed that R. reniformis and R. macrosomoides sp. n. have two distinct rRNA gene types and R. macrosoma have three rRNA gene types in their genomes. PCR with species-specific primers was developed for rapid diagnostics of R. reniformis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of morphological and molecular analyses of a Florida topotype and other populations of Hemicriconemoides strictathecatus showed that this sheathoid nematode consists of two morphotypes, both with an average stylet length of more than 70 µm, but having different tail termini, bluntly pointed or rounded. These findings confirmed the morphological similarity of H. strictathecatus with H. mangiferae, which was considered a junior synonym of this species as previously proposed by Decraemer & Geraert (1992, 1996). Populations of a sheathoid nematode with a stylet length ranging from 62.5 to 72.0 µm from Taiwan, China, South Africa and Venezuela and identified in previous studies as H. strictathecatus were found to be morphologically and molecularly different from this species and are now considered as representatives of H. litchi. Another sheathoid nematode population from Florida, considered to be H. mangiferae by McSorley et al. (1980), was also found to be morphologically and molecularly congruous with H. litchi. During nematological surveys in Florida, a new sheathoid nematode was detected on date palms imported from California into Florida and is described herein as H. phoenicis sp. n. This new species is related morphologically to the H. strictathecatus morphotype with pointed tail terminus. Both have a stylet longer than 70 µm. The new species is phylogenetically related to H. strictathecatus and H. litchi. It differs morphologically from other Hemicriconemoides species by the cuticular ornamentation of the annuli, which are marked by coarse longitudinal ridges, grooves and thick margins. Morphological and molecular characterisations of H. cocophillus from Mozambique and Florida, USA are also elucidated in this study. New phylogenies of the genus Hemicriconemoides as inferred from the analyses of the ITS rRNA, D2-D3 of 28S rRNA and partial coxI gene sequences are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sheathoid nematodes of the genus Hemicriconemoides are migratory root-ectoparasites of many plants including various agricultural crops and fruit trees. They are generally found inhabiting warm areas of the world and presently consist of 52 valid species. In this study we provide morphological and molecular characterisation of 12 species of this genus viz. : H. alexis, H. brachyurus, H. californianus, H. chitwoodi, H. macrodorus, H. minutus, H. ortonwilliamsi, H. promissus, H. silvaticus, H. strictathecatus, H. wessoni and Hemicriconemoides sp. originating from China, Greece, Japan, Myanmar, Spain, South Africa and the USA. Morphological descriptions, measurements, light and scanning electron microscopic observations and drawings are given for several species. Phylogenetic relationships within Hemicriconemoides, as inferred from the analyses of the D2-D3 of 28S rRNA and ITS-rRNA gene sequences, resulted in trees with three major clades that corresponded with species groupings based on morphology of the lip pattern and vulval flap. PCR with species-specific primers were developed for H. calif ornianus, H. chitwoodi and H. strictathecatus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pin nematodes of the genus Paratylenchus are widely distributed across the world and associated with many plant species. Morphological identification of Paratylenchus species is a difficult task because it relies on many characters with a wide range of intraspecific variation. In this study we provide morphological and molecular characterisation of several pin nematodes: Paratylenchus aquaticus, P. dianthus, P. hamatus, P. nanus and P. straeleni, collected in different states of the USA and South Africa. Paratylenchus aquaticus is reported from South Africa and Hawaii and P. nanus is found from South Africa for the first time. Morphological descriptions, morphometries, light and scanning electron microscopic photos and drawings are given for these species. Molecular characterisation of nematodes using the D2-D3 of 28S rRNA and ITS rRNA gene sequence revealed that samples morphologically identified as P. aquaticus, P. hamatus and P. nanus indeed represent species complexes containing several species. Sequences of the rRNA genes are also provided for several unidentified Paratylenchus. Phylogenetic relationships within the genus Paratylenchus are given as inferred from the analyses of the D2-D3 of 28S rRNA and ITS rRNA gene sequences. We present here the most complete phylogenetic analysis of the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scutellonema spp. are widely distributed across tropical and subtropical regions of the world and are associated with numerous agricultural and horticultural crops. Identification of many Scutellonema species is not always reliable, in part because many species share very similar diagnostic characters. In this study, we provide morphological and molecular characterisation of S. brachyurus from the USA and South Africa, S. bradys from Nigeria and three unidentified species from California, USA, New Zealand and Burkina Faso. Morphological descriptions, measurements, light and scanning electron microscopic photos and drawings are given for S. brachyurus. Females of S. brachyurus from the USA (type A) and South Africa (type B) showed a significant variation in the number of sectors and blocks on the lip annuli, ranging from about 4-12 and from 8-20, respectively. Molecular analysis using the D2-D3 of 28S rRNA, ITS rRNA and the COI mtDNA gene sequences revealed two distinct genotypes within S. brachyurus samples: type A (samples from USA, Italy, Korea, Taiwan) and type B (South Africa). Multivariate analyses determined that S. brachyurus from the USA and Taiwan (type A) differed from that from South Africa (type B) mainly in body, tail and DGO lengths, and ratios b', c', c and V. Phylogenetic relationships within Scutellonema are given as inferred from the analyses of the D2-D3 of 28S rRNA, ITS rRNA and the COI mtDNA gene sequences. PCR-RFLP diagnostic profiles and PCR with species-specific primers are developed for the studied Scutellonema species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new root-lesion nematode, particularly pathogenic to Musa spp. and causing important plantain losses in Ghana, is described and named Pratylenchus speijeri n. sp. The cryptic status of this species within the P. coffeae species complex has been assessed and confirmed in this study. An extensive comparison of the morphological and molecular characteristics of this new species with those of P. coffeae and other related amphimictic species did not result in an unambiguous separation of this species from P. coffeae because only a few morphological features of diagnostic value were found. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses of the D2-D3 expansion segments of the 28S rRNA gene, the ITS rRNA gene and a portion of the hsp90 gene of P. speijeri n. sp. and P. coffeae species complex populations from different sources generated majority consensus BI trees with three major clades: P. speijeri n. sp. from Musa spp. roots in Ghana; unidentified or putative new Pratylenchus sp. C1 from Colocasia esculenta roots in Japan and P. coffeae with non-homogeneous relationships from different hosts and distant geographical areas. These results confirmed the validity of P. speijeri n. sp. as a new taxon and indicated that P. coffeae populations from Colocasia in Japan also need to be considered as a new species. Sequence differences in the ITS were used to design group- and species-specific primers to detect P. speijeri n. sp. and other species of P. coffeae species complex. The use of these species-specific primers for the separation of P. speijeri n. sp., Pratylenchus sp. C1 and/3. coffeae has important practical application in breeding programmes for agriculture in West Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During recent collections in South Africa, two species of Criconemoides were found. Criconemoides brevistylus is described and illustrated from a golf course in KwaZulu-Natal Province. It is compared with several closely related species, and three previously described species (C. helicus, C. onostris and C. paronostris) are regarded as junior synonyms of C. brevistylus. Criconemoides obtusicaudatus is described and illustrated from a maize field in Limpopo Province. The male of the species is described for the first time. Molecular characterisation of C. brevistylus and C. obtusicaudatus using the D2-D3 expansions segments of 28S rRNA and ITS rRNA gene sequences are provided. Phylogenetic relationships of these species with other Criconemoides are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caloosia longicaudata is described from Maui, the Hawaiian Islands, for the first time and both sexes are characterised morphologically using light and scanning electron microscopy. Molecular characterisation of C. longicaudata using the D2-D3 domain of 28S rRNA, partial 18S rRNA and ITS rRNA gene sequences is also provided. The phylogenetic relationships of this species with other representatives of the suborder Criconematina are presented and discussed. A diagnostic PCR-ITS-RFLP profile for C. longicaudata is given together with an identification table for eight species of Caloosia. Caloosia langola n. comb. is transferred to the genus and C. shorai is synonymised with H. psidii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of a male-less population of Sphaeronema alni parasitising chestnut (Castanea sativa) roots and inducing a stelar syncytium is reported for the first time in Pola de Somiedo (Oviedo province), Spain. Morphometric and molecular characters of the Spanish population matched those of a topotype population from Russia. SEM observations showed swollen females having the first lip annulus wider than the second and appearing as a cap-like, circumoral elevation. The second-stage juveniles, having a single band in the lateral fields, were characterised by a non-annulated dome-shaped lip region derived from the fusion of the oral disc with all the lip sectors and lip annuli, and showing slit-like amphidial apertures and an oval prestoma. The sequences of the D2-D3 expansion segments of 28S rRNA, partial 18S rRNA and ITS rRNA gene for the Spanish and topotype populations of S. alni were congruent and matched those deposited in GenBank for another population from Germany, thereby confirming their conspecificity. A PCR-RFLP profile of D2-D3 of 28S rRNA for identification of this species was also provided. The phylogenetic relationships between S. alni populations and representatives of the suborder Criconematina, as inferred from analysis of partial 18S rRNA and D2-D3 of 28S gene sequences obtained in this and previous studies, indicated that S. alni formed a basal clade on the majority consensus Bayesian phylogenetic trees, standing together with Meloidoderita sp. or alone. These findings provide additional evidence of the need to clarify the position of Sphaeronema within Criconematina and its relationships with representatives of Tylenchulinae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new amphimictic species, Pratylenchus hispaniensis n. sp., parasitising the roots of gum cistus in Andújar (Jaén), southern Spain, is described. The new species is characterised by the presence of numerous males and by the female having a lip region with three annuli, a divided face, a robust stylet (14.5-17.0 μm) with rounded knobs, lateral fields with four lines, V = 80-84, a round spermatheca full of sperm, well developed post-vulval uterine sac and an obliquely truncate tail with irregularly annulated terminus. Morphologically this species is related to P. bhatti, P. kralli, P. mediterraneus, P. pseudofallax and P. thornei. A phenetic study of the 25 most useful diagnostic morphological and allometric characters for Pratylenchus species was done using multivariate factor and linear discriminant analyses. In the factor analysis the first seven factors accounted for 71.1% of the total variance of the characters selected. These factors were related to female tail, pharyngeal overlap, reproductive behaviour, stylet length, L/post-vulval uterine sac ratio, body length and number of lip annuli. Discriminant analysis differentiated Pratylenchus spp. from the three valid species of Zygotylenchus. The results of the phylogenetic analysis based on sequences of the D2-D3 expansion regions of 28S, partial 18S and ITS rRNA genes confirmed the close relationship of P. hispaniensis n. sp. with P. mediterraneus and inferred molecular affinity with P. brzeskii, P. neglectus and P. thornei, in spite of variation in the position of P. hispaniensis n. sp. in the clades. Additional phylogenetic analyses based on the same sets of sequences for P. hispaniensis n. sp., Zygotylenchus guevarai and other Pratylenchidae indicated that Pratylenchus includes several paraphyletic lineages; however, likelihood tests did not reject monophyly of the genus. The inclusion of Pratylenchus, Zygotylenchus, Hirschmanniella, Nacobbus and Apratylenchus in Pratylenchidae was supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two Hemicycliophora species, H. lutosa and H. typica, found in samples from fallow soil and sugarcane soil in South Africa, were studied morphologically and, for the first time, molecularly. Diagnostic PCR-IT-rRNA-RFLP profiles generated by five restriction enzymes are provided. Study of phylogenetic relationships using D2-D3 expansion segment of 28S rRNA gene sequences revealed that H. lutosa was related to H. poranga. Hemicycliophora lutosa and H. poranga are compared morphologically. SEM photographs are given for H. typica and for H. lutosa for the first time. The male of H. typica represents a first report for South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the genus Hirschmanniella, H. kwazuna sp. n., is described from unidentified grass growing in undisturbed veldt from South Africa. Hirschmanniella kwazuna sp. n. is characterised by having a very irregular heat-relaxed body posture, body 1522-2049 μm long, lip region low and rounded with four or five lip annuli, stylet 18-22.5 μm long, lateral field areolated along entire body, spermatheca filled with sperm, tail with 62-81 ventral annuli narrowing to a tip bearing a ventral mucro, angular crystal-like inclusions within body cavity in most of the specimens and phasmid situated 12-24 annuli or 15-26 μm anterior to tail tip. Males, like females, have crystal-like inclusions with the tail curved strongly dorsad in most specimens. Juveniles are similar to females. Molecular sequence analysis using the D2-D3 expansion segments of 28S, partial 18S and ITS rRNA sequences distinguished H. kwazuna sp. n. from H. loofi and other species of the genus. Hirschmanniella spinicaudata is reported from South Africa for the first time and described. Phylogenetic analyses based on analysis of the D2-D3, 18S and ITS rRNA genes are given for eight, ten and five valid and unidentified Hirschmanniella species, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nematode surveys in indigenous vegetation in northern Spain revealed the presence of a nematode population of the genus Eutylenchus associated with moist sandy soils in the rhizosphere of common reed (Phragmites sp.) on the banks of the Tera river in Garray (Soria province). Morphological and morphometrical studies on this population fits with Eutylenchus excretorius, representing the first report for Spain and southern Europe and the fifth report in Europe after Germany, Poland, Czech Republic and Russia. SEM studies were carried out for the first time on this species and showed four lips separated by deep grooves. Each lip bears an elongated, flexible, recurved projection (seta) 12 (11-13) μm long, proximal third wide, gradually attenuating, distal end rounded. Molecular characterisation of E. excretorius using several genes is provided. The sequence of D2-D3 expansion segments of 28S rRNA gene of this population was identical to a previously studied sample from Germany. Phylogenetic analysis using D2-D3 of 28S rRNA and partial 18S rRNA gene sequences of tylenchid nematodes revealed that E. excretorius clustered with moderate support with Cephalenchus hexalineatus. The position of E. excretorius on majority consensus Bayesian phylogenetic tree reconstructed using heat shock protein 90 gene sequence was not well resolved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phylogenetic analysis of five gene fragments: ITS-rRNA, D2 and D3 of 28S rRNA, 18S rRNA, Hsp90 and actin, of Heterodera species and two representative Afenestrata species, A. koreana and A. orientalis, form a clade with H. cynodontis, H. bifenestra and an unidentified Heterodera sp. infecting grasses. Based on these results and the consideration that the key diagnostic characters of Afenestrata are convergent and do not define a clade, synonymisation of Afenestrata with Heterodera is proposed. The following new combinations are made: H. africana comb. n., H. axonopi comb. n., H. koreana comb. n., and H. orientalis comb. n. Furthermore, H. (= Afenestrata) sacchari is renamed as H. saccharophila nom. nov. to avoid homonymy. All these species, together with H. bamboosi, are regarded as members of a paraphyletic ‘Afenestrata group’ within Heterodera. Whilst recognised as artificial, the Afenestrata group is nevertheless an aid to discussion about these similar species. Morphological and molecular characterisation of populations of H. koreana comb. n. from Florida and H. orientalis comb. n. from Florida and Guatemala verify the identification of these populations as valid representatives for molecular studies of the species. Light and SEM observations also provide new detail and a broader understanding of the morphological range of both species. These include a longer stylet for females of H. koreana comb. n. and H. orientalis comb. n. than reported in the original descriptions. In addition, previously unreported tuberculate ridges are noted on the surface of vulval lips of H. orientalis comb. n. The lip region of second-stage juveniles of H. koreana comb. n. and H. orientalis comb. n. both include fused adjacent submedian lips that also fuse with the labial disc and the second lip annulus. The ITS-rRNA gene sequences of H. orientalis comb. n. populations from Florida and Guatemala were similar to those from the Russian type locality. Diagnostic PCR-RFLP of ITS-rRNA profiles with six enzymes for H. orientalis comb. n. and H. koreana comb. n. are given. A key for the morphological identification of species of the Afenestrata group is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The root lesion nematodes of the genus Pratylenchus Filipjev, 1936 are migratory endoparasites of plant roots, considered among the most widespread and important nematode parasites in a variety of crops. We obtained gene sequences from the D2 and D3 expansion segments of 28S rRNA partial and 18S rRNA from 31 populations belonging to 11 valid and two unidentified species of root lesion nematodes and five outgroup taxa. These datasets were analyzed using maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference. The alignments were generated using the secondary structure models for these molecules and analyzed with Bayesian inference under the standard models and the complex model, considering helices under the doublet model and loops and bulges under the general time reversible model. The phylogenetic informativeness of morphological characters is tested by reconstruction of their histories on rRNA based trees using parallel parsimony and Bayesian approaches. Phylogenetic and sequence analyses of the 28S D2–D3 dataset with 145 accessions for 28 species and 18S dataset with 68 accessions for 15 species confirmed among large numbers of geographical diverse isolates that most classical morphospecies are monophyletic. Phylogenetic analyses revealed at least six distinct major clades of examined Pratylenchus species and these clades are generally congruent with those defined by characters derived from lip patterns, numbers of lip annules, and spermatheca shape. Morphological results suggest the need for sophisticated character discovery and analysis for morphology based phylogenetics in nematodes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Radopholus arabocoffeae sp. n., a new nematode pathogenic on Coffea arabica cv. Catimor, is described from Vietnam. Females of R. arabocoffeae sp. n. are characterised by the broad amphidial apertures with prominent margins. Males are characterised by the bursa extending to one third, rarely middle, of the tail. The new species belongs to the group of species with a long tail in the female. Radopholus arabocoffeae sp. n. is easily distinguished from R. similis by the bursa reaching to only one third of the tail vs extending to the tail terminus. Radopholus arabocoffeae sp. n. is differentiated from R. bridgei by the lateral field having three bands of equal width (vs middle one narrower than others), lateral field completely areolated over whole body vs not areolated except irregularly in neck and tail, hemizonid distinct vs indistinct, four lateral field incisures terminating far behind phasmid vs three incisures terminating at or just behind phasmid, lateral lines fusing at two thirds of tail vs fusing at one third of tail, longer spicule length (18-21 vs 15.5-18.0 μm), and male bursa usually extending to only one third of tail vs mid tail. Radopholus arabocoffeae sp. n. differs from R. colbrani by the rod-like vs round sperm, spicule length (18-21 vs 13-16 μm), tail length to stylet ratio (4.1-4.9 vs more than 5.1) and presence vs absence of a bursa. Radopholus arabocoffeae sp. n. differs from R. duriophilus by the rod-like vs kidney-shaped sperm. Males further differ from R. duriophilus by shorter stylet length (8.2-11.6 vs 11.5-15 μm), smaller distance between dorsal pharyngeal gland orifice and stylet base (1.7-3.4 vs 4-9.5 μm), shorter hyaline tail (2.6-3.4 vs 4-9.5 μm), and bursa extending to one third of tail vs mid-tail. Female R. arabocoffeae sp. n. differ from R. duriophilus by the broad amphidial aperture with prominent margin present vs absent. Males of R. arabocoffeae sp. n. differ from R. musicola by the rudimentary and amalgamated stylet base (vs with knobs), and inner lateral lines fusing at two thirds of the tail vs just posterior to the phasmid. The high level of ITS-rDNA sequence divergence of R. arabocoffeae sp. n. from other Radopholus spp. and the presence of nucleotide autapomorphies support a separate specific status of this new species. On carrot disks, the two species reproduced from 15-30°C; optimum reproduction occurring at 28°C. The reproductive capacity of R. duriophilus was higher than that of R. arabocoffeae sp. n. Radopholus duriophilus reproduced from single juveniles; R. arabocoffeae sp. n. did not. The correlation between initial densities of Pratylenchus coffeae, R. duriophilus and R. arabocoffeae sp. n. and the weight of C. arabica cv. Catimor fitted the Seinhorst model Y = ym for Pi ≥ T, and Y = ym m + ym(1–m)z(Pi–T). Coffea arabica cv. Catimor was very susceptible for to all three nematode species tested, but especially so to R. arabocoffeae sp. n. The reproductive capacity of R. arabocoffeae sp. n. on C. arabica cv. Catimor was higher than P. coffeae or R. duriophilus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anguina woodi sp. n. was found in galls on dune grass, Ehrharta villosa var. villosa, on Milnerton Beach, South Africa. Mature galls varied in colour from purplish to brown and formed elongated to round elevations on the stems, leaf sheaths and, occasionally, the leaf blades. The adult females of Anguina woodi sp. n. are 1.6-2.7 mm long and coiled into a circle or spiral. Adult males were 1.4-2.1 mm long, straight or slightly curved ventrad or dorsad. Second-stage juveniles (J2) were more or less straight with a prominent mucro on the tail. A few larger juveniles, probably J3 and J4, with developing gonads were also found. Morphological, morphometric and molecular analyses showed that Anguina woodi sp. n. is closely related to A. australis Steiner, 1940 and, to a lesser extent, to A. microlaenae (Fawcett, 1938) Steiner, 1940. From A. australis it differs mainly in a slightly longer female stylet (9.5-15.5 vs 8.0-11.1 μm) and wider female head (8.6-11 vs 7.4 μm); a slightly longer male stylet (10.5-12.0 vs 10-11 μm) and longer spicule (33-36 vs 26.5-35.3 μm), and a longer tail (72-96 vs 49-68 μm) and slightly higher c-value (7.3-12 vs 6.1-8.1) in the J2. The mucro on the tail tip of the J2 of A. woodi sp. n. is also more prominent and, on average, longer than the mucro in A. australis (3.3 vs 1.5 μm). Anguina woodi sp. n. differs from A. microlaenae mainly in the appearance of the galls incited (roundish elevations attached to the substrate by a flattened base vs pedunculate galls attached to the substrate by a narrow base), a longer stylet in both females and males (8-9 μm long in females and males of A. microlaenae), body of male curved ventrad or dorsad in A. woodi sp. n. (dorsad in males of A. microlaenae) and female tail in A. woodi sp. n. tapering gradually to a sub-acute tip vs a prominent peg-like process in A. microlaenae. Phylogenetic analysis of the ITS1 sequences of 19 anguinid populations and species using maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood methods revealed that A. woodi sp. n. clustered with high bootstrap support with A. australis. The ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 fragment sequence differed between these species by 20 nucleotides (2.6%). The J2 of A. australis is herein described for the first time and is compared with the J2 of A. woodi sp. n. Phylogenetic relationships of A. woodi sp. n. with other anguinids parasitising grasses are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]