Morphological and molecular characterisation of Boleodorus volutus Lima & Siddiqi, 1963 from South Africa with the first SEM observations of the species

During a survey on plant-parasitic nematodes in South Africa, a population of Boleodorus was recovered in association with grasses. This species characterised by a conical lip region lacking incisures. Stylet length 9-11 µm, lateral field with four incisures, post-vulval sac less than the corresponding body diameter. Tail conically elongated, often hooked at the end, 51-58 µm long. The nblast analysis based on the D2-D3 segment of 28S rDNA of the South African population of B. volutus, revealed 98% similarity to the North American B. volutus (MT994501). The phylogenetic analysis put the South African population of B. volutus together with the other B. volutus and unidentified Boleodorus with a 100 posterior probability support. In addition, the SEM photographs are provided for the first time for B. volutus. This is the first complete report of this species in South Africa.