Odontostyle Length Research Articles

Two new species of genus Labronema Thorne, 1939 (Nematoda, Dorylaimidae) from natural parks of Vietnam with an identification key to the species with a medium-sized odontostyle.

Labronema Thorne, 1939 is a large and diverse dorylaimid genus with complicated taxonomy. Two new species, Labronemaporosum sp. nov. and Labronemabidoupense sp. nov. from natural habitats in Vietnam were characterised both morphologically and molecularly (18S rDNA and 28 rDNA), and line drawings and microphotographs are provided. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the new species clustered together with Labronemaferox Thorne, 1939, the type species of the genus. The two new taxa belong to a group of Labronema species with medium body (L = 1.5-2.5 mm) and odontostyle (31-39 μm) length, and a lip region offset by a constriction. Based on morphological and molecular evidence, this study shows that the populations from Vietnam previously identified as L.glandosum Rahman, Jairajpuri, Ahmad & Ahmad, 1986 in fact represent L.porosum sp. nov. Evolutionary relationships of Labronema species are discussed. A key to the species of Labronema with a medium-sized odontostyle (31-39 μm) is provided as well as a list of the species of the genus considered valid.

Description of Longidorus sanlitanensis n. sp. (Dorylaimida: Longidoridae) from the rhizosphere of Melilotoides ruthenica and Chamaerhodos erecta in China

Summary Longidorus sanlitanensis n. sp. was recovered from the rhizosphere of Melilotoides ruthenica and Chamaerhodos erecta in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, P.R. China, and was described and illustrated using morphological and molecular data. The new species is characterised by medium body length of females (4.0-4.8 mm), lip region anteriorly rounded and separated from the rest of the body by a depression, pocket-shaped amphidial pouches, the guiding ring located at 58.4-66.0 μm from the anterior end, odontostyle and odontophore 107.2-114.6 and 71.6-77.8 μm long, respectively, the pharyngeal bulb 68.7-79.7 μm long, a short conical tail with a broadly rounded terminus, four juvenile developmental stages (J1 was not detected) and males absent. By similarities in the distance of the guiding ring from the anterior body end, body and odontostyle length and lip region shape, the new species was compared with nine similar species, namely: L. litchi, L. diadecturus, L. fursti, L. himalayensis, L. jonesi, L. wiesae, L. macromucronatus, L. fangi and L. zhengi. The matrix code of the new species is: A4-B2-C5-D4-E1-F2-G2-H12-I2-J1-K?. The phylogenetic relationships of the new species with other relevant species were reconstructed using near-full-length 18S, ITS1 and 28S D2-D3 regions of rRNA gene and the resulted topologies were discussed. In 18S phylogeny, L. sanlitanensis n. sp. formed a clade with L. litchi inside a major clade, including species with a posteriorly located guiding ring, and in 28S phylogeny it showed close relationships with species having a posteriorly located guiding ring. This is the 22nd Longidorus species recorded from China.

Description of Longidorus bordonensis sp. nov. from Portugal, with systematics and molecular phylogeny of the genus (Nematoda, Longidoridae)

The genusLongidoruscurrently comprises 176 species of polyphagous plant ectoparasites, including eight species that vector nepoviruses.Longidorusis one of the most difficult genera to accurately identify species because of the similar morphology and overlapping measurements and ratios among species. Sequences of ribosomal RNA (rRNA)-genes are a powerful level-species diagnostic tool for the genusLongidorus. From 2015 to 2019, a nematode survey was conducted in vineyards and agro-forest environments in Portugal. The populations ofLongidorusspp. were characterized through an integrative approach based on morphological data and molecular phylogenetic analysis from rRNA genes (D2-D3 expansion segments of the 28S, ITS1, and partial 18S), including the topotype ofL. vinearum.Longidorus bordonensissp. nov., a didelphic species recovered from the rhizosphere of grasses, is described and illustrated.Longidorus vineacola, with cork oak and wild olive as hosts, is also characterized. This is the first time thatL. wicuolea, from cork oak, is reported for Portugal. Bayesian inference (BI) phylogenetic trees for these three molecular markers established phylogenetic relationships among the new species with otherLongidorusspp. Phylogenetic trees indicated that i)L. bordonensissp. nov.is clustered together with otherLongidorusspp. and forms a sister clade withL. piniandL. carpetanensis, sharing a short body and odontostyle length, and elongate to conical female tail, and ii) all the other species described and illustrated are phylogenetically associated, including the topotype isolate ofL. vinearum.

On the identity of Aporcelinus granuliferus (Cobb, 1893) Andrássy, 2009 and its taxonomic consequences

The intricate taxonomical history of Aporcelinus granuliferus, the most often recorded species of its genus, is reviewed and discussed. A new concept, based on its original description, is proposed for it as type material is apparently lost although available data provide enough information to complete and update its diagnosis: 1.20-1.70 mm long body, lip region 15-16 μm broad, odontostyle 17-21 μm long, neck 309-403 μm long, pharyngeal expansion 155-214 μm long, dorsal cell mass present at pharyngo-intestinal junction, uterus simple and up to one body diam. long, V = 47-55, female tail conical with acute tip and occasionally somewhat recurved dorsad (46-55 μm; c = 24-37; c′ = 1.4-1.9), and male absent. The population studied by Thorne & Swanger (1936) is certainly not conspecific with Cobb’s original one due to significant differences in lip region breadth and odontostyle length, and belongs to a non-described species, herein characterised and named as A. brasiliensis sp. n.: 1.5-1.6 mm long body, lip region offset by constriction and 24-27 μm wide, odontostyle 25-28 μm long, neck 345-370 μm long, V = 48, tail conical (46-55 μm; c = 29-32; c′ = 1.3-1.4) with very finely rounded or acute tip and barely recurved dorsad, spicules 54-72 μm long and nine irregularly spaced ventromedian supplements with no hiatus. The three females deposited with USDANC are not identical either to those studied by Cobb or by Thorne & Swanger, and also belong to a non-described species, herein characterised as named as A. neogranuliferus sp. n.: 1.25-1.31 mm long body, lip region offset by constriction and 17.5-18.0 μm broad, odontostyle 18 μm at its ventral side, neck 312-337 μm long, pharyngeal expansion 136-168 μm long, dorsal cell mass present at level of pharyngo-intestinal junction, uterus simple and 41-48 μm long or 0.6 times corresponding body diam., V = 49-53, female tail conical (28-35 μm; c = 36-46; c′ = 0.8-1.0) with finely rounded terminus and no hyaline region. Both Dorylaimus reynecki and D. yucatanensis, hitherto considered to be identical to A. granuliferus, are valid species, being transferred to Aporcelinus as A. reynecki comb. n. and A. yucatanensis comb. n. The available information on D. micrurus and D. menzeli lacks sufficient relevant detail to characterise these species, which are therefore regarded as species inquirendae within Aporcelinus and are transferred as A. micrurus comb. n. and A. menzeli comb. n. The true identity of other records of A. granuliferus is analysed and discussed in the light of the new concept of the taxon.

First Report of Longidorus kuiperi and Rotylenchus eximius from Coastal Sand Dunes in Crete, Greece.

Plant-parasitic nematode species have been reported on several occasions from coastal sand dunes, including Longidorus and Rotylenchus species (Vovlas et al., 2008; De Luca et al., 2009; Mateille et al., 2014). In April 2016, 10 soil samples of 3 to 4 kg from the rhizosphere of Tamarix smyrnensis with different vegetation around (viz. Elymus farctus, Lycium schweinfurthii, Crithmum maritimum, and Arthrocnemum sp.) were collected for diagnosis of plant-parasitic nematodes. The area of sampling was a coastal sand dune near the archeological site of Komos, southwest of Crete, Greece. Low soil populations of a needle and a spiral nematode were detected (3 and 8 individuals/1,000 cm3 of soil, respectively), which prompted us to undertake a detailed morphological and molecular comparative study with previous reported data. Nematodes were extracted from soil with the wet sieving and decanting method (Cobb, 1918). Morphological and molecular analyses of females identified these species as Longidorus kuiperi Brinkman, Loof and Barbez, 1987, and Rotylenchus eximius Siddiqi, 1964. The morphology of L. kuiperi females (six specimens studied) was characterized by having a slender body; very broad lip region (27 ± 1.5 [25 to 30] μm in width); short, hemispherical tail; body length of (7.1 ± 0.8 [6.5 to 8.5] mm); vulva position at 47% to 55% of body length; odontostyle length of (105 ± 6.5 [90 to 115] μm); males very common (but less frequent than females [45% vs 55%]); tail region with 15 to 20 supplements and bulged terminal cuticle. The morphology of R. eximius females (four specimens studied) was characterized by having a hemispherical lip region clearly set off; with four annuli; body without longitudinal striations; lateral fields areolated in the pharyngeal region only; stylet 36 to 38 μm; and broadly rounded tail. The morphology of the isolated nematodes agreed with previous descriptions of L. kuiperi (Brinkman et al., 1987; De Luca et al., 2009), and R. eximius (Siddiqi, 1964; Castillo and Vovlas, 2005). A single individual was used for DNA extraction. Primers and polymerase chain reaction conditions used in this research were specified in Cantalapiedra et al. (2013) and Archidona-Yuste et al. (2016), and a single amplicon of 800 and 1,100 bp was obtained and sequenced, respectively. D2-D3 (KX398055-KX398056) and ITS sequence alignments (751 and 648 bp, respectively) from L. kuiperi (KX398057) showed 98% to 99% similarity, differing in 4, and from 6 to 12 nucleotides, respectively, to other sequences of L. kuiperi deposited in GenBank from Italy and Spain (AM911623, AM905267-AM905270, respectively), with a query coverage of 99%. Similarly, D2-D3 sequence alignment from R. eximius (KX398058) showed 100% to 99% to another sequence of R. eximius deposited in GenBank from Italy and Spain (EU280794, DQ328741), differing in zero to three nucleotides, respectively, and a query coverage of 81%. Phylogenetic analyses using Bayesian Inference placed L. kuiperi in a highly supported (100%) clade that included all L. kuiperi sequences deposited in GenBank (Archidona-Yuste et al., 2016), and R. eximius in a highly supported (100%) clade that included all R. eximius sequences deposited in GenBank (Cantalapiedra-Navarrete et al., 2013). All identification methods were consistent with L. kuiperi and R. eximius. To our knowledge, this is the first report of L. kuiperi and R. eximius in Greece. Consequently, all these data suggest that coastal sand dunes in Europe constitute environmental conditions optimal for colonization and development of L. kuiperi, as previously reported (De Luca et al., 2009). Similarly, R. eximius has been reported in several Mediterranean countries, including Italy, Morocco, Spain, and Tunisia (Castillo and Vovlas, 2005), and this report extend the geographical distribution of this species.

Morphological and molecular characterization of Tylencholaimellus persicus sp. n. (Dorylaimida: Tylencholaimellidae) from Iran.

Tylencholaimellus persicus sp. n. is described and illustrated based on morphological and molecular characters. The new species is characterized by its 613-885 μm long body, expanded lip region separated from body contour by a sharp constriction, forming a large disk-like structure, odontostyle and odontophore respectively 12-14 and 6.5-8.0 μm long, female genital system mono-opisthodelphic with relatively long anterior uterine sac (AUS; 50-80 μm in length), position of vulva relative to the body length (V = 36.5-41.5), broadly rounded tail, abundant males in population with 22-25 μm long spicules and one ventromedian copulatory supplement. The new species is compared with five known species of the genus that have a perioral disc, rounded tail and AUS: T. coronatus, T. incertus, T. montanus, T. ozarkensis and T. projectus. Compared to these five species, the new species has an expanded lip region separated from body contour by a sharp constriction, but can further be separated by a combination of morphological and morphometric characters such as odontostyle length, tail shape, differences in ratios c´ and V and male characters. Because of having similar general morphology, the new species was also compared with a species of genus Margollus, M. bokanicus, and the differences between the two species are discussed. In addition to morphological and morphometric data, molecular phylogenetic analyses were performed using partial sequences of the 18S SSU and 28S LSU D2/D3 rDNA segments, in which the new species forms a clade with four species/isolates of Tylencholaimellus in the SSU tree and one isolate of Tylencholaimus in the LSU tree using Bayesian inference (BI).

Integrative diagnosis of the needle nematodeLongidorus jonesiaffecting forest in southernJapan

SummaryThe occurrence of a parthenogenetic population ofLongidorus jonesiin the rhizosphere of aPrunussp. tree in a mixed evergreen forest is reported for the first time inMiyazaki (Miyazaki prefecture), southernJapan, and constitutes the first report of this species inJapan. Nematode diagnosis matched well with the original description in India and a subsequent report inChina. Morphometric traits of theJapanese population were characterized by a longer odontostyle length (123–142.5vs. 107–120 μm) and some differences in c ratio (95.9–131.5vs. 140–185) with respect to the original description, but closer to theChinese population. This difference could be considered as geographical intraspecific variability. Molecular characterization from nuclear ribosomalRNAgenes [D2‐D3 expansion segments of large ribosomal subunit (28S) and internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1)] was provided for the first time. Molecular analysis ofD2‐D3 andITS1 showed a close relationship withL. diadecturus, a virus‐vector nematode, by 94 and 79% similarity, respectively. The similarities in morphology, molecular and ecology (L. jonesiandL. diadecturusare feeding mainly onPrunusspecies) suggest that this species could be a potential virus vector, as it is the case withL. diadecturusandpeach rosette mosaic virus.

A new species of the rare nematode genus Margollus Pena-Santiago, Peralta & Siddiqi, 1993 (Nematoda: Tylencholaimoidea) from Turkey.

Margollus turcicus sp. n., is described and illustrated from vineyard soil in Turkey. The new species is characterized by having a medium sized body (L=1.0-1.2 mm); cuticle with distinct striations; radial refractive elements abundant; lip region distinctly narrower than the adjoining body and slightly offset from the body contour by a depression; cephalic and labial papillae not discernible; strong labial and post-labial sclerotization present; amphids well developed with sclerotized walls; stylet 27-28.5 microm long, odontophore distinctly flanged, 0.3 times the odontostyle length; pharyngeal bulb offset by constriction, 33-37 microm long; mono-opisthodelphic female genital system with anterior branch 22-41 microm long; spicules 49 microm long; single weak ventromedian supplement and short hemispheroid tail in both sexes.

Morphological and molecular characterisation of Xiphinema zagrosense sp. n. (Dorylaimida: Longidoridae) from the Zagros Mountains, Iran

Xiphinema zagrosense sp. n. is described based on morphological and molecular characters. The new species belongs to morphospecies group 6 characterised by having two equally developed female genital branches with spines in uterus and a short, rounded tail. The new species is characterised by having spines in the tubular part of the uterus, body length 3.8-5.0 mm, odontostyle length 151-169 μm, odontophore 94-105 μm, conical, dorsally convex tail, four juvenile stages and absence of males. The new species appears closely related to the members of X. pyrenaicum group characterised by a rounded tail with or without an inconspicuous digitate end and a uterus devoid of Z-differentiation but showing spiniform structures. It is compared with X. aceri, X. adenohystherum, X. iranicum, X. mazandaranense, X. nuragicum, X. pyrenaicum, X. robbinsi, X. sphaerocephalum and X. vuittenezi. In addition to morphological and morphometric data, molecular analyses of the near-full-length small subunit rDNA gene (SSU) and large subunit rDNA gene (LSU) D2/D3 placed the new species in close relation with some species belonging to Xiphinema group 6 but differs from other species in the X. pyrenaicum complex.

Longidorus carniolensis sp. n. (Nematoda, Longidoridae) from vineyard soil in Slovenia

A new needle nematode, Longidorus carniolensis sp. n., recovered from the soil around the roots of grapevine Vitis vinifera L. from Slovenia, is described and illustrated. Longidorus carniolensisis an amphimictic species, characterised by females with a moderately long (L=5.6–8.2 mm) and plump (a=51–72.4, ave. 66.3) body, assuming a spiral to C-shape when heat relaxed. Head region continuous, anteriorly almost flat, lip region 23–25 µm wide; guiding ring situated posteriorly (42–47 μm, 43–50 μm in males), odontostyle long (ave. 146.6 (136–157) μm); pharyngeal glands with normal location, their nuclei of approximately equal size; tail bluntly conoidal to almost hemispherical. Males abundant, spicules slender and long (122–145 μm), ventromedian supplements 13–17, irregularly spaced, preceded by an adanal pair. Four juvenile stages present, the first stage juvenile with bluntly conoidal tail. Codes for identifying the new species when using the key by Chen et al. (1997) are: A 56, B 4, C 4, D 1, E 4, F 35, G 1, H 1, I 2. The new species is morphologically the most similar to Longidorus poessneckensis Altherr, 1974, Longidorus macrosoma Hooper, 1961, Longidorus caespiticola Hooper, 1961, Longidorus helveticus Lamberti et al., 2001, Longidorus macroteromucronatus Altherr, 1974, Longidorus pius Barsi & Lamberti, 2001, Longidorus raskii Lamberti & Agostinelli, 1993, Longidorus kheirii Pedram et al. 2008, Longidorus silvae Roca, 1993, Longidorus iuglandis Roca et al., 1985, Longidorus vinearum Bravo & Roca, 1995 and Longidorus major Roca & d’Erico, 1987, but differs from these species either by the body and odontostyle length, position of guide ring, head region and tail shape or the shape of the first stage juvenile tail. Sequence data from the D2-D3 region of the 28S rDNA distinguishes this new species from other speciesof the genus Longidorus with known sequences. Relationships of Longidorus carniolensis sp. n. with other Longidorus species based on analysis of this DNA fragment and morphology are discussed.

First Report of Longidorus breviannulatus Associated with Damage on Creeping Bentgrass Golf Greens in Québec, Canada.

Creeping bentgrass, Agrostis stolonifera L., is the most important turfgrass species cultivated on golf greens in Canada. The needle nematode, Longidorus breviannulatus Norton & Hoffman, has several plant hosts including Gramineae such as corn, Zea mays L. (3), and creeping bentgrass (1). This large, plant-parasitic nematode is found most frequently in sandy soils and is encouraged by irrigation (2). In 2006, irregular, yellowish/chlorotic, and dead turfgrass patches were observed for the first time on several sand-based creeping bentgrass cv. Penncross greens on a golf course in Bromont, Québec (45°19'N, 72°39'W). Furthermore, a noticeable decline of the turfgrass root system was observed. Creeping bentgrass was grown with the following management practices: mowing height 3.18 mm, fertilization 2.27 kg N/0.45 kg P2O5/3.18 kg K2O/92.9 m2/year, aeration two times per year with 9.53-mm-diameter hollow core. On 5 July 2006, soil (0.5 kg) was sampled from two damaged areas of green no. 11. Three plugs (5-cm diameter × 15 cm deep) were taken from each area with a soil probe and pooled to form two separate samples. Another set of soil samples was collected on 12 July from three golf greens (nos. 10, 11, and 16). One sample was taken from each of three damaged areas and two healthy areas of each green. Plant-parasitic nematodes were extracted from 100-ml volumes of each soil sample by the Baermann pan and funnel extraction methods. Numbers of L. breviannulatus from the soil sampled on 5 July were counted with a stereo-microscope after 4 days of extraction, while numbers of L. breviannulatus in the rest of the samples were counted after 7 days of extraction. Identification was determined by morphological examination of a small number of adult female nematodes (n = 7). Characteristics distinguishing these specimens as L. breviannulatus include: amphidial pouches (bilobed and extending to the guiding ring), length 5,115 μm (4,780 to 6,230 μm), distance of the guiding ring from the oral aperture 26 μm (24 to 30 μm), odontostyle length 83 μm (78 to 90 μm), and tail length 42 μm (37 to 50 μm). In the two soil samples collected on 5 July, 0 and 183 juveniles per kilogram of dry soil were recovered with the Baermann pan method. In samples collected on 12 July from damaged areas of three greens, averages of 16 (min 0 and max 60) and 22 (min 0 and max 80) juveniles per kilogram of dry soil were obtained with the Baermann pan and funnel methods, respectively. No L. breviannulatus was found in any sample from healthy areas. Although no damage threshold has been established for L. breviannulatus in creeping bentgrass, low numbers of needle nematodes can be damaging in other crops such as corn. In our study, the occurrence of the damage was related to populations of the needle nematode, and therefore, the nematode was the likely cause of the damage. In Canada, L. breviannulatus is reported from Ontario (4). To our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of L. breviannulatus in Québec.

Developmental and growth patterns in Xiphinema parasimile and X. simile (Nematoda: Dorylaimida), members of the X. americanum-group

AbstractXiphinema parasimile and X. simile are morphologically and morphometrically very similar, yet molecularly different, species with different developmental and growth patterns, a different number of juvenile developmental stages (four vs three) and a different post-embryonic growth pattern. Body length, body volume and odontostyle and replacement odontostyle lengths served for comparison of the post-embryonic growth patterns in these species. A percentage method was used to make the data sets comparable between one population of X. parasimile and three populations of X. simile. The mean body lengths of the first, second and pre-adult stages in X. simile showed similarity with those of the second, third and pre-adult stages in X. parasimile. In X. simile there was no unique growth pattern of body length and body volume from stage to stage applicable for all populations, just a similar trend with more or less similar values. The difference between replacement odontostyle and functional odontostyle lengths in all juvenile stages was higher in X. simile and lower in X. parasimile, despite the very similar mean odontostyle length in the female stage of both species.

Xiphinema iranicum n. sp. (Nematoda: Longidoridae) from north-western Iran

AbstractXiphinema iranicum n. sp. is described from soil samples collected about the rhizosphere of Rosa sp. growing in a natural mountainous region close to Maragheh city, north-western Iran. The new species belongs to group 6 of the polytomous key to species identification and is unique by having a medium body length (3.8-4.3 mm), odontostyle length of 141-162 μm, odontophore length of 90-98 μm, mid-body diam. of 69-88 μm, presence of spines in the uterus and a hemispherical to conoid tail with a rounded terminus or minute bulge. It resembles X. ingens, X. aceri, X. aequum, X. smoliki, X. illyricum, X. macedonicum and X. vuittenezi but differs from X. aceri and X. aequum by having different tail shape, longer odontophore, lower ratio a, higher ratio c and lower ratio c′. Compared to X. ingens and X. smoliki, it differs by having lower ratio a, lower ratio b, spines in uterus vs crystalline bodies plus pseudo Z-organ in X. ingens and spines plus pseudo Z-organ in X. smoliki and also by the presence of rare males, and, finally, it can be distinguished from X. vuittenezi by body and odontostyle length, characters of juveniles and molecular differences. The new species has similar polytomous identification codes to X. illyricum and X. macedonicum but can be differentiated from both by longer body, higher ratio c, higher V, longer odontostyle and odontophore and larger body diam. at mid-body and anus level. Ribosomal gene 18S rDNA and ITS1 of X. iranicum n. sp., X. aceri, X. montenegrinum and X. macedonicum, all obtained from north-western Iran in the same survey, were sequenced to investigate the phylogenetic relationships with other sequenced Xiphinema species.

Longidorus camelliae n. sp. (Nematoda: Longidoridae) associated with ornamental cultivars of Camellia japonica L. growing in a nursery at Fuyang, Zhejiang Province, eastern China.

A description is provided of Longidorus camelliae n. sp., a bisexual species associated with ornamental cultivars of Camellia japonica L. growing in Fuyang, Zhejiang Province, eastern China. The species is characterised by its small body length (1.83-3.54 mm), narrow (6-10 microm), anteriorly flattened, continuous head region, non-bilobed amphidial pouches, medium odontostyle length (80-91, microm) and elongate, conoid tail (32-39 microm; c' = 1.1-1.4). Males are characterised by having short spicules (44-48 microm) and a row of seven supplements. The species has only three juvenile development stages.

Nigerian Species of the Genus Xiphinema Cobb, 1913 (Nematoda: Dorylaimida): Part I

This paper deals with species of Xiphinema, collected by the senior author in Northern Nigeria during 1973-1980. Four new species are described: in all four, males are rare or unknown. X. majus n. sp. strongly resembles X. ingens Luc & Dalmasso, 1964; females are almost indistinguishable. The J-I, J-2 and J-3 differ in tail shape (J-1 and J-2 also in odontostyle length) from the corresponding stages of X. ingens; moreover, in X. ingens males are common. X. dolosum n. sp. possesses a Z-organ (variable between specimens, in some almost rudimentary) and an elongate tail. It resembles X. hallei Luc, 1958 and X. limpopoense Heyns, 1977, but differs from both in tail shape (curved ventrad), tail length, and in being unisexual; from the former also in being much less slender, from the latter also in vulva position. X. fatikae n. sp. also has a Z-organ and an elongate tail; shape and length of tail differentiate it from X. hallei and X. limpopoense. From X. dolosum it differs in tail shape (long cylindrical terminal part) and vulva position (47-54 vs 39-42). X. oryzae n. sp. differs from all nominal species possessing a Z-organ in its very long tail (182-251 μm, c' = 6.6-8.8). Supplementary data are given on four species: X. bergeri Luc, 1974, the juvenile stages of which are described; X. nigeriense Luc, 1961 (specimens much longer than the type specimens); X. rotundatum Schuurmans Stekhoven & Teunissen, 1938, of which females and three juvenile stages were found; and X. oxycaudatum Lamberti & Bleve-Zacheo, 1979 (specimens with longer odontostyles than the types). Much material was found of the X. elongatum-X. vulgare complex and related species.

Longidorus iranicus n.sp. (Nematoda: Dorylaimida).

Longidorus iranicus n.sp. is described from the north-western part of Iran, where it was found in the rhizosphere of grape and other cultivated plants. Its main features are a 5-7 mm long and rather slender body, a narrow, rounded lip region which is almost continuous with neck contour, an odontostyle length around 110 μm, a short, bluntly conoid tail, the shape of the amphids, the position of the gland nuclei in the oesophageal bulb, the cuticle layering at the tail end and the absence of males. L. iranicus resembles L. goodeyi, L. caespiticola, L. taniwha, L. poessneckensis and, most closely, L. crassus. ac]19820617.

Two New Species of Longidoridae (Dorylaimida) From Saudi Arabia

Two new species of Longidoridae are described from poorly growing date palms in Saudi Arabia. Longidorus orientalis n. sp., found in Dirab and Riyadh, (and also in soil around roots of grapevine in several localities in Iraq) is characterized by round, continuous lip region, bilobed amphids and hemispherical female tail, body length of 4-6 mm and odontostyle length of 96-113 μm. L. taniwha apud About-Eid, 1970 from Egypt is possibly identical with it. Xiphinema phoenicis n. sp. closely resembles X. diversicaudatum (Micoletzky, 1927), but is distinctly more slender (a being 83-124 in females, 92-126 in males; in diversicaudatum 67-84 in females, 66-92 in males), the vulva is more posterior (45-51 vs 38-46), the odontophore is shorter relative to the odontostyle, and the females possess a well developed, more compact Z-organ. X. phoenicis was found only at Riyadh, together with numerous specimens of Longidorus africanus Merny, 1966, and a few L. siddiqii Aboul-Eid, 1970 and Xiphinema italiae Meyl, 1953.

Longidorus Elongatus and Closely Related Species in the Netherlands and Lower Saxony (Germany), With the Description of Two New Species, L. Cylindricaudatus and L. Intermedius (Nematoda: Dorylaimida)

Odontostyle length, tail length, body width, and distance of spear guiding ring from anterior end of body are about 15% larger in populations of Longidorus elongatus without males in those with. Two new species, which are very similar to L. elongatus are described. They both differ from the latter species in having longer odontostyles (105-125 μm in L. intermedius n. sp. and 128-140 μm in L. cylindricaudatus n. sp.) and a more rounded anterior end. The body in the anal region is slightly thicker than more anteriorly in L. elongatus but not in L. intermedius and L cylindricaudatus. The anterior lateral pores lie posterior to the spear guiding ring in L. elongatus, slightly anterior to the spear guiding ring in L. intermedius and at two thirds of the distance from anterior end to spear guiding ring in L. cylindricaudatus.

Stomachoglossa Bryophilum N. Sp. (Brittonematidae), Wiestindicus Rapax N. Sp. (Paractinolaimidae), Caribenema Siddiqii N. Sp. and C. Longidens Thorne, 1967, (Carcharolaimidae) From St. Lucia

Stomachoglossa bryophilum n. sp., Westindicus rapax n. sp., Caribenema siddiqii n. sp. and C. longidens Thorne, 1967, are described from St. Lucia. S. bryophilum n. sp. is distinctive because of its combination of body length, tail length and odontostyle length and in having about 40 longitudinal grooves at the mid-body region. A female of this species was observed feeding on the body contents of a dead mesostigmatid mite. W. rapax n. sp. can be distinguished from W. brachycephalus by possessing eight male supplements, five pairs of caudal pores on the male tail and two to three pairs on the female tail. W. rapax is a predator and was observed feeding on the body contents of enchytraeids, a tardigrade and a Xiphinema sp. C. siddiqii n. sp. differs from C. f erox and C. longidens in having six onchia in the vestibule and six basal thickenings around the guide ring. C. siddiqii n. sp. is close to C. drepanodon n. comb. (Syn. Carcharolaimus drepanodon Loof, 1964) from which it differs in having numerous denticles in the vestibule, longer odontostyle and three pairs of caudal pores.