Search

Summary The second population of Pratylenchoides riparius, including females and males, is described and illustrated based upon morphological, morphometric and molecular data. The present population from Iran is characterised by some differences with the type population of the species from Hungary in stylet length (24-26 vs 21-22 μm), slightly longer body (1002-1230 vs 830-960 μm), pharynx (202-211 vs 182-190 μm) and tail (64-85 vs 48-57 μm), areolated outer bands of the lateral field (vs non-areolated), widening of the lateral field near tail terminus (vs lateral incisures connecting each other) and presence of males (vs absent). The taxonomic status of the species with regarding the data from the type and presently recovered population, as well as the closely similar species is discussed. The newly recovered population was studied based upon its molecular phylogenetic charactes using the D2-D3 of 28S rRNA and the partial 18S rRNA gene sequences and the results revealed that it forms a clade with P. magnicauda in 28S, but occupies a distant placement from it in 18S phylogeny.

Pratylenchoides ojcowensis sp. nov. (Figures 1–4) Measurements. Measurements of holotype female, 4 paratype females and 15 paratype males of P. ojcowensis sp. nov. are given in Table 1. Description. Body tapering towards both ends, bent ventrally after killing. Cuticle with well-marked annulation. The width of the annuli at midbody region 1.3–2.1 μm in females and 1.1–1.9 μm in males. Lateral field with 6 lines in the middle part of body, outer bands wider, sometimes partially areolated. Lines usually regular but some- times discontinuous or tangled. Head of both females and males conical, slightly rounded anteriorly, not separated from the body contour. In males the head is slightly higher than in females. The ratio of head width to height is 1.8–2.3 in males and 2.3–2.4 in females. Head in both sexes with 4–5 annuli. Basal plate of cephalic framework well developed, its posterior extension extending almost 3 annuli. Anterior and posterior cephalids distinct, lying 5–7 and 10–13 annuli behind the cephalic framework respectively. Stylet relatively short (20.3–21.3 µm in females, 17.7–20.9 µm in males) with oval knobs directed more or less posteriorly. Stylet base 5.2–5.7 µm wide in females and 4.0–5.0 in males. Dorsal pharyngeal gland orifice located 2.2–3.1 µm from the stylet base. Hemizonid 1–3 annuli wide, located 2–3 annuli anterior to excretory pore. Deirids at level of or slightly posterior to hemizonid. Median bulb oval, larger in females than in males; with the ratio of length to width also larger in females (1.4–1.7 vs 1.8–2.4). Dorsal pharyngeal nucleus located anterior to the cardia and two subventral pharyngeal nuclei located posterior (dCss). Pharyngeal glands overlapping intestine dorsally, by 1.8–2.6 times corresponding body diameter (all observations of pharyngeal glands are given only for females because these structures were not clearly visible in males). Intestinal fasciculi visible in most specimens. Female. Vulva thick, approximately 12 μm wide, slightly raised. Vagina with straight walls, perpendicular to the body axis, occupying about 50% of the corresponding body diameter. Spermatheca rounded to oval, axial, filled with rounded sperm. Female tail cylindrical with maximum 29 annuli. Tail terminus broadly rounded, annulated, final annuli wider than others. Phasmids located 27–37 µm anterior to the end of the tail. Male. Tail conical, curved to the dorsal side in about 1/4 of the length, with a terminal finger-shaped part bent ventrally. Spicules slightly curved ventrally, gubernaculum narrow with hook-shaped distal part. Caudal alae 57.5– 69.5 µm long, 7.5–9.7 µm wide with crenate margins. Phasmids located 21–37 µm anterior to the end of the tail. Type locality and habitat. Polish Jurassic Highland from soil around tangled roots of Elymus sp. and Trifolium sp. in xerothermic grasslands (N 50.22856 E 19.82599) in Ojców National Park, 13.07.2012, leg. Łukasz Flis and Olga Wiśniewska. Type material. Holotype female, 4 paratype females and 15 paratype males are deposited at the Nematode Col- lection of Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Science in Warsaw. Etymology. The species name “ ojcowensis ” refers to the name of National Park where this the new species was found. Diagnosis. Pratylenchoides ojcowensis sp. nov. is characterized by conical heads with 4–5 annuli continuous with the body contour in both females and males; a relatively short stylet (20.3–21.3 µm females, 17.7–20.9 µm males) with oval stylet knobs directed posteriorly; a dorsal pharyngeal gland nucleus located anterior to the pharyngo-intestinal junction and two subventral pharyngeal nuclei located posterior to the cardia (dCss); a pharyngeal lobe of length about 2 body widths (1.8–2.6); lateral fields with 6 lines in the middle part of the body and sometimes with partially areolated outer bands; the presence of the intestinal fasciculi; round sperm in the spermatheca in females; a female tail with a maximum of 29 annuli and with an annulated tail terminus. Morphologically, Pratylenchoides ojcowensis sp. nov. is most similar to P. alkani Yüksel 1977, P. ritteri Sher 1970, and P. nevadensis Talavera & Tobar 1996. It is distinguished from these species by the shape of the female head (conoid vs rounded), shorter stylet in females (20.3–21.3 µm vs 22.0–25.0 µm, 21.0–25.0 µm, 22.0–26.0 µm) and differences in 28S rDNA sequences. In addition (as per the original descriptions Yüksel 1977, Sher 1970, Talavera & Tobar 1996) it is distinguished from P. alkani by smaller number of male’s head annuli (4–5 vs 7–9), from P. ritteri it is distinguished by posteriorly directed stylet knobs (vs directed laterally), from P. nevadensis it is distinguished by oval and posteriorly directed stylet knobs (vs rounded and directed laterally). Pratylenchoides ojcowensis sp. nov. can be separated from other species in the ritteri group (Ryss 2007) by the following. From P. arenarius Brzeski 1998 and P. bacilisimenus Sher 1970 it is distinguished by sperm shape (round vs rod shaped). From P. leiocauda Sher 1970 it is distinguished by having an annulated tail terminus. From P. maqsoodi Maqbool & Shahina 1989 it is distinguished by more head annuli (4–5 vs 2–3). From P. utahensis it is distinguished by having an annulated tail terminus, different shape of the male head (conoid vs rounded-truncate) and differences in 28S rDNA sequences. From P. vassilevi Stoianov & Baicheva 1988 it is distinguished by the shape of the head (conical and continuous with body contour vs broadly rounded and separated from the body contour) and posteriorly directed stylet knobs (vs directed laterally). The sequencing of the 28S rDNA D2 / D3 segment from sixteen P. ojcowensis sp. nov. specimens yielded 654–742 bp length sequences. Multiple-sequence alignment showed 606 homologous characters in all specimens. Phylogenetic trees generated from partial 28S rDNA sequences with maximum likelihood method using the general time reversible plus gamma substitution model and Pratylenchus thornei (JX261963) as outgroup showed that they form a well-defined separate clade with 99% bootstrap support (Fig. 5).

A new species of the genus Pratylenchoides has been described. It was found in Polish Jurassic Highland, in Ojców National Park. Pratylenchoides ojcowensis sp. nov. was isolated from the soil located around tangled roots of Elymus sp. and Trifolium sp. This species is marked by a conical head in both females and males which is not separated from the body contour and has with 4–5 annuli; a relatively short stylet (20.3–21.3 µm females, 17.7–20.9 µm males) with oval knobs directed posteriorly; the dorsal pharyngeal nucleus located anterior to the cardia (the subventral pharyngeal nuclei located posterior; a pharyngeal lobe of length about two body widths (1.8–2.6); a lateral field with 6 lines in the middle part of body and sometimes with partially areolated outer bands; intestinal fasciculi present; round sperm in the spermatheca in females; a female tail with a maximum of 29 annuli, and an annulated tail terminus. The status of the new species has been verifiied by DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the 28S rDNA region. The results obtained in the study indicated that P. ojcowensis sp. nov. is most related to P. alkani, P. ritteri and P. nevadensis from which is distinguished by the shape of the female head (conoid vs rounded), shorter stylet in females (20.3–21.3 µm vs 22.0–25.0 µm, 21.0–25.0 µm, 22.0–26.0 µm) and differences in 28S rDNA sequences. In addition (as per the original descriptions Yüksel 1977, Sher 1970, Talavera & Tobar 1996) it is distinguished from P. alkani by smaller number of male’s head annuli (4–5 vs 7–9), from P. ritteri it is distinguished by posteriorly directed stylet knobs (vs directed laterally), from P. nevadensis it is distinguished by oval and posteriorly directed stylet knobs (vs rounded and directed laterally).

Pratylenchoides ojcowensis sp. nov. (Figures 1���4) Measurements. Measurements of holotype female, 4 paratype females and 15 paratype males of P. ojcowensis sp. nov. are given in Table 1. Description. Body tapering towards both ends, bent ventrally after killing. Cuticle with well-marked annulation. The width of the annuli at midbody region 1.3���2.1 ��m in females and 1.1���1.9 ��m in males. Lateral field with 6 lines in the middle part of body, outer bands wider, sometimes partially areolated. Lines usually regular but some- times discontinuous or tangled. Head of both females and males conical, slightly rounded anteriorly, not separated from the body contour. In males the head is slightly higher than in females. The ratio of head width to height is 1.8���2.3 in males and 2.3���2.4 in females. Head in both sexes with 4���5 annuli. Basal plate of cephalic framework well developed, its posterior extension extending almost 3 annuli. Anterior and posterior cephalids distinct, lying 5���7 and 10���13 annuli behind the cephalic framework respectively. Stylet relatively short (20.3���21.3 ��m in females, 17.7���20.9 ��m in males) with oval knobs directed more or less posteriorly. Stylet base 5.2���5.7 ��m wide in females and 4.0���5.0 in males. Dorsal pharyngeal gland orifice located 2.2���3.1 ��m from the stylet base. Hemizonid 1���3 annuli wide, located 2���3 annuli anterior to excretory pore. Deirids at level of or slightly posterior to hemizonid. Median bulb oval, larger in females than in males; with the ratio of length to width also larger in females (1.4���1.7 vs 1.8���2.4). Dorsal pharyngeal nucleus located anterior to the cardia and two subventral pharyngeal nuclei located posterior (dCss). Pharyngeal glands overlapping intestine dorsally, by 1.8���2.6 times corresponding body diameter (all observations of pharyngeal glands are given only for females because these structures were not clearly visible in males). Intestinal fasciculi visible in most specimens. Female. Vulva thick, approximately 12 ��m wide, slightly raised. Vagina with straight walls, perpendicular to the body axis, occupying about 50% of the corresponding body diameter. Spermatheca rounded to oval, axial, filled with rounded sperm. Female tail cylindrical with maximum 29 annuli. Tail terminus broadly rounded, annulated, final annuli wider than others. Phasmids located 27���37 ��m anterior to the end of the tail. Male. Tail conical, curved to the dorsal side in about 1/4 of the length, with a terminal finger-shaped part bent ventrally. Spicules slightly curved ventrally, gubernaculum narrow with hook-shaped distal part. Caudal alae 57.5��� 69.5 ��m long, 7.5���9.7 ��m wide with crenate margins. Phasmids located 21���37 ��m anterior to the end of the tail. Type locality and habitat. Polish Jurassic Highland from soil around tangled roots of Elymus sp. and Trifolium sp. in xerothermic grasslands (N 50.22856 E 19.82599) in Ojc��w National Park, 13.07.2012, leg. Łukasz Flis and Olga Wiśniewska. Type material. Holotype female, 4 paratype females and 15 paratype males are deposited at the Nematode Col- lection of Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Science in Warsaw. Etymology. The species name ��� ojcowensis ��� refers to the name of National Park where this the new species was found. Diagnosis. Pratylenchoides ojcowensis sp. nov. is characterized by conical heads with 4���5 annuli continuous with the body contour in both females and males; a relatively short stylet (20.3���21.3 ��m females, 17.7���20.9 ��m males) with oval stylet knobs directed posteriorly; a dorsal pharyngeal gland nucleus located anterior to the pharyngo-intestinal junction and two subventral pharyngeal nuclei located posterior to the cardia (dCss); a pharyngeal lobe of length about 2 body widths (1.8���2.6); lateral fields with 6 lines in the middle part of the body and sometimes with partially areolated outer bands; the presence of the intestinal fasciculi; round sperm in the spermatheca in females; a female tail with a maximum of 29 annuli and with an annulated tail terminus. Morphologically, Pratylenchoides ojcowensis sp. nov. is most similar to P. alkani Y��ksel 1977, P. ritteri Sher 1970, and P. nevadensis Talavera & Tobar 1996. It is distinguished from these species by the shape of the female head (conoid vs rounded), shorter stylet in females (20.3���21.3 ��m vs 22.0���25.0 ��m, 21.0���25.0 ��m, 22.0���26.0 ��m) and differences in 28S rDNA sequences. In addition (as per the original descriptions Y��ksel 1977, Sher 1970, Talavera & Tobar 1996) it is distinguished from P. alkani by smaller number of male���s head annuli (4���5 vs 7���9), from P. ritteri it is distinguished by posteriorly directed stylet knobs (vs directed laterally), from P. nevadensis it is distinguished by oval and posteriorly directed stylet knobs (vs rounded and directed laterally). Pratylenchoides ojcowensis sp. nov. can be separated from other species in the ritteri group (Ryss 2007) by the following. From P. arenarius Brzeski 1998 and P. bacilisimenus Sher 1970 it is distinguished by sperm shape (round vs rod shaped). From P. leiocauda Sher 1970 it is distinguished by having an annulated tail terminus. From P. maqsoodi Maqbool & Shahina 1989 it is distinguished by more head annuli (4���5 vs 2���3). From P. utahensis it is distinguished by having an annulated tail terminus, different shape of the male head (conoid vs rounded-truncate) and differences in 28S rDNA sequences. From P. vassilevi Stoianov & Baicheva 1988 it is distinguished by the shape of the head (conical and continuous with body contour vs broadly rounded and separated from the body contour) and posteriorly directed stylet knobs (vs directed laterally). The sequencing of the 28S rDNA D2 / D3 segment from sixteen P. ojcowensis sp. nov. specimens yielded 654���742 bp length sequences. Multiple-sequence alignment showed 606 homologous characters in all specimens. Phylogenetic trees generated from partial 28S rDNA sequences with maximum likelihood method using the general time reversible plus gamma substitution model and Pratylenchus thornei (JX261963) as outgroup showed that they form a well-defined separate clade with 99% bootstrap support (Fig. 5)., Published as part of Winiszewska, Gra��yna, Dobosz, Renata, Malewski, Tadeusz & Skwiercz, Andrzej, 2020, Description of Pratylenchoides ojcowensis sp. nov. (Nematoda: Merlinidae) from Polish Jurassic Highland, pp. 117-128 in Zootaxa 4742 (1) on pages 119-121, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4742.1.7, http://zenodo.org/record/3674527, {"references":["Yuksel, H. S. (1977) Pratylenchoides alkani sp. n. and P. erzumensis sp. n. (Nematoda: Tylenchoidea) from soil in Turkey. Proceedings of the Helminthological Society of Washington, 44, 185 - 188.","Sher, S. A. (1970) Revision of the genus Pratylenchoides Winslow, 1958 (Nematoda: Tylenchoidea). Proceedings of the Helminthological Society of Washington, 37, 154 - 166.","Talavera, M. & Tobar, A. (1996) Description of Pratylenchoides nevadensis sp. n. from Southern Spain (Tylenchida: Pratylenchidae). Afro-Asian Journal of Nematology, 6, 46 - 49.","Ryss, A. (2007) Taxonomy and evolution of the genus Pratylenchoides (Tylenchida: Pratylenchidae). Parazitologyia, 43, 161 - 194.","Brzeski, M. W. (1998) Nematodes of Tylenchida in Poland and temperate Europe. Muzeum i Instytut Zoologii PAN, Warszawa, 396 pp.","Stoianov, D. & Baicheva, O. (1988) Pratylenchoides vassilevi sp. n. (Nematoda: Pratylenchidae) from wheat and maize crops in North Eastern Bulgaria. Comptes Rendu de l'Academie Bulgare des Sciences, 41, 73 - 75."]}

Pratylenchoides leiocauda Sher, 1970 (Figs 5 & 6) Measurements. See Table 2. Female. Body almost straight with slight ventral curvature after fixation. Cuticle annuli about 1 ��m wide at mid-body. Lateral field usually with six (rarely four) incisures near mid-body, the two inner ones obscure at the level of deirids and at the posterior end. Outer bands incompletely areolated on some parts of the body, typically on the tail. Labial region continuous with the body contour, anteriorly flattened, 5���6 ��m high and 9���11 ��m wide at base, with three or four distinct annuli. Cephalic framework well developed, with posterior margin extending over two annuli. Stylet robust, twice as long as cephalic region diameter at base, conus 8���10 ��m and slightly shorter than half of the stylet (m = 45���48), basal knobs directed laterally or slightly sloping backward. Dorsal pharyngeal gland orifice 2���4 ��m from stylet base. Median bulb oval with distinct valve apparatus, 63���69 ��m from anterior end. Nerve ring situated slightly anterior to mid-isthmus, 76���85 ��m from the anterior end. Hemizonid two annuli wide, two to three annuli anterior to secretory-excretory pore. Deirids present within the four lateral lines, two to five annuli anterior to secretory-excretory pore. Pharyngeal glands overlapping intestine dorsally, 2���4 times the corresponding body diameter. Pharyngo-intestinal valve pyriform, usually shifted ventrally. The dorsal pharyngeal gland nucleus and one of the subventral gland nuclei level with or slightly anterior to the pharyngo-intestinal valve; the second subventral gland nucleus posterior to the valve. Intestinal fasciculi indistinct. Vagina shorter than half of the corresponding body diameter. Spermathecae round, axial, with irregular rounded to spindle-shaped sperm. Tail cylindrical or sub-cylindrical, with rounded terminus, mostly smooth, or occasionally coarsely annulated. Tail with distinct hyaline region, but without refractive inner cuticular layer. Phasmids 15���26 ��m posterior to anus, usually near middle of tail. Male. Body almost straight after heat fixation. Cephalic region truncate-conoid, higher and narrower than that of female. Stylet slightly shorter and more slender than in female, with smaller basal knobs. Median bulb and pharyngeal glands weakly-developed, nuclei obscure. Caudal alae with crenate margins, arising at level of spicules and extending to tail terminus. Spicules slightly curved ventrad, gubernaculum simple. Tail tapers gradually to a conoid terminus. Remarks. Our population fits with the original description of P. leiocauda (Sher 1970), except that the pharyngeal glands overlap a longer portion of the intestine (2���4 vs. 1���2 times the corresponding body diameter), tail is slightly longer (c = 12���17 vs. 17���22), having more annuli (21���26 vs. 16���21). The Iranian population also comes close to P. crenicauda, but has a longer overlap of the pharyngeal glands over the intestine and has a usually smooth tail terminus. Ghaderi & Karegar (2014b) mentioned that the prviously-reported population from Iran appears to be P. crenicauda; that population has a short pharyngeal gland overlap of the intestine (less than half of corresponding body diameter), 27 tail annuli and a striated tail terminus. Therefore, the present study can be considered the first report of P. leiocauda from Iran. This population was collected from the rhizosphere of apple trees in Gorgan county (Golestan province), northern Iran. range); measurements are in ��m). Character\Species Pratylenchoides leiocauda Telotylenchus paaloofi, Published as part of Ghaderi, Reza, Karegar, Akbar, Miraeiz, Esmaeil & Hashemi, Kobra, 2017, Comparative morphology of the anterior end of selected taxa of Merliniidae Siddiqi, 1971 (Nematoda: Tylenchoidea), with morphological characterisation of two species and taxonomic keys to several genera, pp. 571-588 in Zootaxa 4300 (4) on pages 578-579, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4300.4.6, http://zenodo.org/record/839278, {"references":["Sher, S. A. (1970) Revision of the genus Pratylenchoides Winslow, 1958 (Nematoda: Tylenchoidea). Proceedings of the Helminthological Society of Washington, 37, 154 - 165."]}

Numerical taxonomy was used for identification and grouping of the genera, species, and populations in the families Merliniidae and Telotylenchidae. The variability of each of 44 morphometric characters was evaluated by calculation of the coefficient of variability (CV) and the ratio of extremes (max/min) in the range of 1,020 measured females. Also correlation and regression analyses were made between characters to find potential collinearities. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was used for (i) grouping 21 genera in the superfamily Dolichodoroidea based on literature data coded for states of 18 diagnostic characters, and (ii) for grouping Iranian populations belonging to selected genera. Furthermore, STEPDISC analysis was used for (i) grouping 11 genera of Merliniidae and Telotylenchidae based on the measurements of 35 characters from 1,007 Iranian female specimens, and (ii) grouping measured females of eight species of Amplimerlinius and Pratylenchoides. The multivariate data analysis approach showed robust enough to summarize relationship between morphometric characters and group genera, species, and populations of the nematodes and in particular help to identify the genera and species of Amplimerlinius and Pratylenchoides.

Description of Pratylenchoides persicus n. sp. (Figures 1 & 4; Tables 1 & 2) Female. Body slightly curved ventrally after heat fixation. Cuticle with distinct annuli, 1.5–1.8 µm wide at midbody; lateral field with six longitudinal incisures at deirid and mid-body, and four incisures at post-phasmid, the outer bands areolated at posterior part of pharynx, 7.0–8.8 µm wide and occupying 31–38 % of the body width at mid-body. Lip region off-set by slight depression with body contour, rounded anteriorly or slightly flattened and bearing four or five distinct but fine annuli, 9.4–10.3 µm wide at base and 3.6–4.1 µm high (Fig. 1 B–D and 4 A & B). Stylet strong with rounded or posteriorly flattened basal knobs; the conus 9.0–11.2 µm long or half of the total stylet length. Dorsal pharyngeal gland orifice located 3–4 µm behind the stylet knobs. Median bulb oval, 13–19 µm long and 10.0–12.3 µm wide with refractive valves. Deirids at the level of hemizonid or slightly anterior to it. Secretory-excretory pore located in anterior half of the pharyngeal glands or 110–126 µm from the body anterior end; hemizonid 2–4 annuli anterior to secretory-excretory pore. Pharyngeal glands abutting or slightly overlapping intestine dorsally; all three nuclei of dorsal and subventral glands located anterior to the pharyngo-intestinal valve (Fig. 1 C–D and 4 F–H). Intestinal fasciculi visible in some specimens. Reproductive system didelphic, amphidelphic; spermatheca rounded, filled with globular sperm. Vagina 9–12 µm long and 40–50 % of the body width at vulva. Tail cylindrical, with truncate to low rounded and coarsely annulated terminus. Hyaline thickness 7–10 µm. Phasmids located 21–30 µm posterior to anus, in the posterior half of the tail (Fig. 1 J–L and 4 L–N). Male. Similar to female in general view. Body slightly curved ventrally. Lateral field with six incisures; outer band areolated. Lip region high, rounded or slightly flattened. Stylet slightly more slender than that of females (Fig. 1 E & F and 4 C & D). Spicules curved ventrally, gubernaculum simple. Tail conical, tapering gradually to a conoid or more or less subcylindrical terminus (Fig. 1 M–N and 4 O). Diagnosis and relationships. Pratylenchoides persicus n. sp. is characterized by a lip region rounded anteriorly or slight flattened and bearing four or five fine annuli, pharyngeal glands abutting or slightly overlapping intestine dorsally, all the three gland nuclei located anterior to the pharyngo-intestinal valve and tail cylindrical with truncate to low rounded terminus. This species comes closest to P. heathi Baldwin, Luc & Bell, 1983; P. sheri Robbins, 1985; P. arenicola Ryss & Sturhan, 2001; P. laticauda Braun & Loof, 1967 and P. erzurumensis Yüksel, 1977. In comparison with the original description of P. heathi (Baldwin et al. 1983), the new species can be separated by shorter body length (601–784 vs 820–1330 µm), smaller stylet (19.7–22 vs 23.5–27.5 µm), shorter tail (35–46 vs 44–69 µm) and different shape of tail terminus (truncate to low rounded vs rounded) in females, as well as a smaller stylet (19.8–20.9 vs 23.5–27 µm) in males. P. persicus n. sp. has a shorter body than P. sheri (601–784 vs 898–1173 µm), a shorter stylet (19.7–22 vs 22–25.5 µm), a shorter pharynx (154–194 vs 190–217 µm), and a shorter tail (35–46 vs 47–64 µm) in females. Furthermore, P. persicus n. sp. males have a shorter stylet (19.8–20.9 vs 21.5–24 µm) and spicules (21.7–27 vs 28–31 µm). P. persicus n. sp. differs from P. arenicola in the shape of tail terminus in males (usually conical vs cylindrical), as well as a shorter stylet (19.7–22 vs 25 µm in females and 19.8–20.9 vs 23–25 µm in males), also in body length (601–784 vs 980–1100 µm in females and 623–665 vs 800– 890 µm in males). The other two related species, P. laticauda and P. erzurumensis, have a longer overlap of the pharyngeal glands with the intestine (vs abutting or very short overlapping), posterior position of the subventral gland nuclei to the cardium (at least one of the subventral gland nuclei close to the cardium vs all the three nuclei distinctly anterior to the cardium), different glands shape (saccate vs elongate-cylindrical) and a smaller number of head annuli (usually 3 wide annuli vs 4 or 5 fine annuli). Furthermore, males of P. erzurumensis have a conoid lip region which is different from that of females (rounded or flattened, similar to that of females, in P. persicus n. sp.). Type material. Holotype female (slide number KA1100), eight paratype females and three males and five juveniles on slide numbers KA1101-KA1105 kept in the nematode collection of Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, Iran; two female paratypes, two males and one juvenile on slide numbers WT3668 and WT 3669 in the Nematode Collection of Plantenziektenkundige Dienst, Wageningen, The Netherlands. Type habitat and locality. The specimens were collected by the second author (Ali Eskandari) from the rhizosphere of oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) in Abr forest, Shahrud county, Semnan province, northern Iran (GPS coordinates: N 37° 45' 385"– E 55° 02' 287"), May 2014. Etymology. The species epithet refers to the Latin name of Iran, the country where it was recovered and identified., Published as part of Azizi, Kourosh, Eskandari, Ali, Karegar, Akbar, Ghaderi, Reza, Elsen, Sven Van Den, Holterman, Martijn & Helder, Johannes, 2016, Morphological and molecular characterization of Pratylenchoides persicus n. sp. (Nematoda: Merliniidae) and additional data on two other species of the genus from Iran, pp. 459-474 in Zootaxa 4205 (5) on page 461, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4205.5.4, http://zenodo.org/record/198032, {"references":["Baldwin, G., Luc, M. & Bell, A. H. (1983) Contribution to the study of the genus Pratylenchoides Winslow (Nematoda: Tylenchida). Revue de Nematologie, 6, 111 - 125.","Robbins, R. T. (1985) Description of Pratylenchoides sheri n. sp. (Nematoda: Pratylenchidae). Journal of Nematology, 17, 107 - 111.","Ryss, A. Y. & Sturhan, D. (2001) Three new species of the genus Pratylenchoides from Germany (Tylenchida: Pratylenchidae). Zoosystematica Rossica, 10, 15 - 31."]}

Iranian population of Pratylenchoides cf. nevadensis Talavera & Tobar, 1996 (Figures: 3 & 6; Table 4) Female. Body slightly curved ventrally to C-shaped after heat fixation. Cuticular annuli 1.3–1.7 µm wide at midbody. Lateral field with four or six longitudinal incisures at mid-body, with always four at the deirid and in the post-phasmid portion of the body; occupying 34–41 % of the body width at mid-body. Lip region off-set by slight depression with the body contour, rounded anteriorly or slightly flattened and bearing three-four distinct annuli, 8.8–11.0 µm wide at base and 3.2–4.0 µm high (Fig. 3 C–E and 6 A & B). Stylet with rounded knobs. Dorsal pharyngeal gland orifice located 2–3 µm behind stylet knobs. Deirids at the level of hemizonid or slightly anterior to it. Secretory-excretory pore located 88–125 µm from the body anterior end; hemizonid 2–3 annuli anterior to the pore. Pharyngeal glands overlapping intestine dorsally for 30–56 µm, or about 1.5–2.0 times body width. The nuclei of the dorsal and subventral glands mostly located posterior to the pharyngo-intestinal valve, in some specimens the dorsal gland is anterior to or level with the valve. All gland nuclei hardly seen and glands cover about only half of the body width (Fig. 3 D & E and 6 F–H). Spermatheca rounded, filled with round sperm. Tail cylindrical to subcylindrical, ending to a coarsely striated terminus. Phasmids 19–29 µm posterior to the anus (Fig. 3: L–O and 6: K–M). Male. Similar to females in general view. Body slightly curved ventrally. Lateral field with four or six incisures; outer band areolated. Lip region conical and higher than that of females (Fig. 3 F & H and 6 C & D). Tail gradually tapering, ending to a conical terminus (Fig. 3 J & K and 6 N). Remark. Compared to the original description of P. nevadensis (Talavera & Tobar, 1996), the Iranian population has a slightly shorter stylet (18.8–21.8 vs 22–26 µm) and shorter pharynx (145–183 vs 178–254 µm). No other difference in morphologic or morphometric diagnostic characters was found. Our population also has affinities with P. ritteri and P. alkani, but differs in having narrow pharyngeal glands which do not fill the whole body cavity and in having different positions of the pharyngeal gland nuclei. During the present study, this population was recovered from the rhizosphere of walnut trees (Juglans regia) in Rashakan region, Urmia county, West Azerbaijan province, northwestern Iran (GPS coordinates: N 37° 19' 2" – E 45° 17'48")., Published as part of Azizi, Kourosh, Eskandari, Ali, Karegar, Akbar, Ghaderi, Reza, Elsen, Sven Van Den, Holterman, Martijn & Helder, Johannes, 2016, Morphological and molecular characterization of Pratylenchoides persicus n. sp. (Nematoda: Merliniidae) and additional data on two other species of the genus from Iran, pp. 459-474 in Zootaxa 4205 (5) on pages 466-471, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4205.5.4, http://zenodo.org/record/198032, {"references":["Talavera, M. & Tobar, A. (1996) Description of Pratylenchoides nevadensis sp. n. from southern Spain (Tylenchida: Pratylenchidae). Afro-Asian Journal of Nematology, 6, 46 - 49."]}

Iranian population of Pratylenchoides laticauda Braun & Loof, 1966 (Figures: 2 & 5; Table 3) Female. Body slightly curved ventrally to C-shaped after heat fixation. Cuticle with distinct annuli, 1.3–1.6 µm wide at mid-body. Lateral field with six longitudinal incisures, occupying 29–37 % of the body width at mid-body; the number of incisures reduce to four in the post-phasmid level. Lip region off-set by slight depression with the body contour, rounded anteriorly or slightly flattened and bearing three or four distinct annuli, 9.9–11.0 µm wide at base and 3.2–4.4 µm high. Stylet strong with rounded to slightly posteriorly directed knobs, the conus 9.6–11.5 µm long and slightly longer than the shaft (Fig. 2 C–E and 5 A & B). Dorsal pharyngeal gland orifice located 2–4 µm behind stylet knobs. Deirids at the level of hemizonid or slightly anterior to it. Secretory-excretory pore 103–127 µm from the body anterior end; hemizonid 2–3 annuli anterior to the pore. Pharyngeal glands overlapping intestine dorsally, about 9–27 µm, the nucleus of the dorsal and one of the subventral glands located anterior to the pharyngo-intestinal valve and the nucleus of the other subventral gland with variable position relative to the oesophago-intestinal valve (level or slightly anterior or posterior to the valve) (Fig. 2 D & E and 5 F–I). Spermatheca rounded, filled with round sperm. Tail cylindrical, with rounded and coarsely striated terminus. Phasmids 16–30 µm posterior to the anus (Fig. 2 H–I and 5 O–R). Male. Similar to females in general view. Body slightly curved ventral to C-shape. Lateral field with six incisures, oblique striae and areolation may be observed. Lip region rounded, higher and narrower than that of female. Stylet slightly more slender than that of female (Fig. 2 F & G and 5 C & D). Spicules and gubernaculum typical of the genus. Tail conical, tapering gradually to a conoid or somewhat subcylindrical terminus (Fig. 2 L & M and 5 S). Remarks. Compared to the Dutch population of P. laticauda (Braun & Loof 1966), the Iranian population has a slightly shorter stylet (19.2–22.8 vs 22–23 µm). During the present study, this species was recovered from the rhizosphere of apricot trees (Prunus armeniaca) in Ilvang region, Khalkhal county, Ardebil province, northwestern Iran (GPS coordinates: N 37° 42' 17" – E 48°27'44") as a new record for Iranian nematofauna.

In this study, plant parasitic nematodes determined in greenhouses of vegetables growing in some provinces of the Southeastern Anatolia Region (Batman, Diyarbakir, Mardin, Siirt and Ažanliurfa) were examined faunistically and taxonomically. Nematode species obtained from soil and root samples were measured and identified by preparing their permanent preparations. The descriptions, synonyms, possible variations, distribution, habitats and literature records of each species are presented in this study. As a result of the study, totally, 18 species belonging to 10 genera of 7 families of superfamilies, Tylenchoidea, Hoplolaimoidea and Anguinoidea of suborder, Tylenchina were determined. This was first recorded since there was no literature record regarding the nematodes in greenhouses of vegetables growing in The Southeastern Anatolia Region. The most common nematode species in this study are Ditylenchus destructor Thorne (54.54%),Pratylenchoides alkani Yuksel (42.42%), Geocenamus brevidens Allen (Siddiqi) (24.24%), Pratylenchus thornei Sher and Allen (21.21%) and Boleodorus thyllactus Thorne (18.0%), respectively. Key words: Southeastern Anatolia Region, Turkey, plant parasitic nematodes, nematafauna, vegetable, greenhouse.

In this study, plant parasitic species of Pratylenchoides (Tylenchida: Pratylenchidae) in the tomato(Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) fields in rotation with carrot in Beypazarı (Ankara) district are examined in considering their two main aspects, namely faunistic and taxonomic. In 1991, during the summer months, when adult Tylenchida species are more abundant, soil and tomato samples were taken, from these samples, nematodes were extracted, prepared and the ones belonging to Pratylenchoides were measured and identified. Identification, synonyms, possible variations, distribution and habitats of each species are given, as a result of both laboratory studies and literature records. In this study, 3 species belong to Pratylenchoides genus as P.alkani Yüksel 1977, P.conincki Ökten 1989 and P.leicauda Sher 1970were determined. P.leicauda were the first record for Nematoda fauna of the Turkey., Bu çalışmada Beypazarı (Ankara) ilçesinde havuç ile münavebeye giren domates (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) ekim alanlarında bulunan Pratylen-choides (Tylenchida:Pratylenchidae) cinsine ait bitki paraziti türler faunistik ve taksonomik olmak üzere iki bölümde incelenmiştir. 1991 yılında ergin Tylenchida türlerinin çoğunlukla bulunduğu yaz aylarında toprak ve kök örnekleri alınmıştır. Alınan toprak örneklerinden elde edilen nematodların daimi preparatları hazırlanarak, Pratylenchoides cinsine ait türlerin ölçüm ve teşhisleri yapılmıştır. Her türün tanımı, sinonimleri, görülen varyasyonlar, çalışma kapsamına giren alanlardaki yayılışı, literatürde kayıtlı yayılışı ve habitatları verilmiştir. Çalışmada Pratylenchoides cinsine ait P.alkani Yüksel 1977, P.conincki Ökten 1989 ve P.leicauda Sher 1970 olmak üzere 3 tür saptanmış olup. Bunlardan P.leicauda'nın Türkiye için ilk kayıt olduğu belirlenmiştir.

Merlinius acuminatus Minagawa of medium length has a short stylet (12-14 μm), a double spermatheca and a long conical tail; in the male the bursa does not cover the entire tail. It is close to M. joctus, which has a longer stylet (15-17 μm). Two new Triversus species permitted a further study of the genus: apparently the dorsoventral flattening of the head, the presence of intestinal fasciculi, the structure of female and male reproductive systems and the shortness of the male tail vs the long, conical female tail are genus characteristics as well. T. kangwonensis sp. n. and T. yugaensis sp. n. resemble T. annulatus but have a gently annulated cuticle (instead of coarsely), moreover in T. kangwonensis the tail is longer with numerous annuli (c' = 4.4-6.1 instead of c' = 2.7-3.5); T. yugaensis sp. n. is larger (L = 780-935 μm instead of L = 620-760 μm) and has a shorter stylet (17-19 μm instead of 19-22 μm). Pratylenchoides clavicauda sp. n. has six lines in the lateral field, a non-annulated tail end and a long overlapping oesophageal lobe. Structure of tail and oesophageal lobe is used to differentiate it from the closely related P. leiocauda, P. utahensis and P. alkani.

Morphological and morphometric studies were conducted on the populations and paratypes of 14 species of the genus Pratylenchoides, including P. alkani, P. acuticauda, P. arenarius, P. arenicola, P. bacilisemenus, P. crenicauda, P. erzurumensis, P. heathi, P. laticauda, P. ritteri, P. rivalis, P. sheri, P. utahensis and P. variabilis. In addition, P. erzurumensis was redescribed based on a bisexual population from western Iran. The conoid head of males is an additional diagnostic character of this species distinguishing it from the closely related P. laticauda and P. camachoi. Based on detailed study of the main characters, synonymies of P. arenarius with P. bacilisemenus and P. variabilis with P. crenicauda are proposed. Synonymy of P. alkani with P. ritteri is supported also by morphological and biological evidence. Some taxonomic notes are made on some other species of the genus. Finally, a diagnostic compendium and key is provided for species identification.

Examination of the esophagi of various Pratylenchoides, Pratylenchus, and Radopholus species indicates the length of esophageal overlap on the intestine to be of minor importance as a differentiating character at the generic level. The diagnosis of Pratylenchoides is amended. Studies of the esophagi in type specimens of Pratylenchoides crenicauda, as well as in a population from Germany, show that the greatest length of the esophagus usually occurs dorsally but can occur laterally. Zygotylenchus Siddiqi, 1963 and Mesotylus de Guiran, 1964 are synonymized to Pratylenchoides Winslow, 1958 which now includes P. crenicauda Winslow, 1958, P. guevarai Tobar Jimenez, 1963 (syn: Zygotylenchus browni Siddiqi, 1963 and Mesotylus gallicus de Guiran, 1964) and P. taomasinae (de Guiran, 1964) n. comb.

In a sandy salt marsh on the Dutch island of Terschelling several females and males were encountered representing a new species which is placed in the genus Pratylenchoides Winslow, 1958, despite some aberrant characters. The type locality is a special biotope which is characterized.

Pratylenchoides crenicauda Winslow, 1958. Females (n = 2): L = 0.60 -0.63 mm; a = 27-33; b = 4.2- 4.7; c = 14-16; V = 24 ~ 2 557 - 58 22 - 27; spear = 20 fx. Male (n = 1): L = 0.69 mm; a = 29; b = 5.3; c = 17; T = 43; spear = 20 (i.; spicules = 23 jx. The outline of the oesophageal gland lobe in this species rather resembles that of Tylenchorhynchus magnicauda, but the ventrosublateral gland nuclei lie more anterior. Sample 56., Published as part of P. A. A. LOOF, 1971, FREELIVING AND PLANT PARASITIC NEMATODES FROM SPITZBERGEN, COLLECTED BY MR. H. VAN ROSSEN, pp. 1-86 in Mededelingen Landbouwhogeschool Wageningen 71 on page 43, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.8152982