First molecular observation on Mylonchulus hawaiiensis from South Africa.

During a survey of soil nematodes in South Africa, a species of predatory nematodes, namely Mylonchulus hawaiiensis was recovered from soil in the Magoebaskloof mountain of Limpopo Province, South Africa. The morphology of the material studied fit well with the previous populations of the same species. A molecular study of 18S rDNA region of M. hawaiiensis indicated a 100% similarity between the South African population and the Japanese population of M. hawaiiensis (AB361438; AB361439; AB361440; AB361442). In addition, phylogenetic analysis placed all M. hawaiiensis in a group with 0.97 posterior probability. Additionally, ITS rDNA of M. hawaiiensis amplified for the first time. However, Principal component analysis (PCA) showed a morphological variation among the different populations of M. hawaiiensis. In addition, haplotype analysis also revealed that the South African population is close to the Japanese population. In conclusion, 18S rDNA was a good marker for detecting M. hawaiiensis. Measurement, photographs, and phylogenetic position of South African M. hawaiinesis are given.

Morphological and Molecular note on the identity of Mylonchulus sigmaturus Cobb, 1917 (Nematoda: Mylonchulidae) from Pakistan.

A species of predatory nematode, Mylonchulus sigmaturus Cobb, 1917, was recovered around the soil and roots of banana plants (Musa paradisiaca) from four different localities of Pakistan. The male of this species represents a new record from Pakistan. Morphological and morphometric data of the species have been contributed along with the molecular study. The phylogenetic analysis using 18S rDNA placed the Pakistani populations of M. sigmaturus with the same species in a clade with 100 posterior probabilities. The first input of 28S rDNA data placed Pakistani M. sigmaturus in a separate clade with 100 posterior probability support, however close with Prionchulus punctatus (Cobb, 1917) Andrássy, 1958 and Clarkus papillatus (Bastian, 1865) Jairajpuri, 1970.

Description of Aphelenchoides persicus sp. n. (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae) from Iran.

During a survey on the soil nematodes, a population of the genus Aphelenchoides was collected around the rhizosphere of persimmon in Guilan Province, Iran. The morphological and molecular characters confirmed the new species, namely A. persicus sp. n. The new species is characterized by a female body length (699-1068 µm), lip region offset from the rest of the body by a slight constriction, lateral fields with six incisures, stylet 12-13.5 µm long, with a clear basal swelling, excretory pore ca 1.5 metacorpal length posterior to base of the metacorpus, post uterine sac elongate, about 4-7 times than the vulval body diameter; conical female tail with a single centrally located mucron with tiny projection close to the tail tip, male body length (663-908 µm), and spicule well developed with rounded condylus, blunt conical rostrum, and a hook-like tip of dorsal limb. The new species belongs to the Group 2 category of Aphelenchoides species and was similar to seven known species with six lateral field incisures, including A. allius, A. chinensis, A. meghalayensis, A. nechaleos, A. paranechaleos, A. parasexlineatus, and A. sexlineatus. The molecular phylogeny based on 28S rDNA revealed that the new species stands close to A. hamospiculatus (MN931591; MN931592) and two unidentified Aphelenchoides (KY769057; LC583315). The measurements, line illustrations, LM photographs, and phylogenetic analysis are given for the new species.

Description of Anaplectus deconincki n. sp. from South Africa.

During a survey of soil nematodes in Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town, a population of plectid nematodes belonging to the genus Anaplectus was recovered and proved to be a species new to science. Anaplectus deconincki n. sp. is characterized by female body length (612-932 µm), b = 4.6-5.2, c = 12.8-18.0, c' = 2.6-3.1, V = 51-54, and tail length (43-63 µm). Males are characterized by body length (779-956 µm), b = 4.8-5.6, c = 13.9-16.7, c' = 2.2-2.5, spicule length 33-39 µm, gubernaculum length 10-12 µm, and tail length (56-65 µm). Discriminant analysis clearly separated A. deconincki n. sp. from the other related species of Aanaplectus. The phylogenetic analysis placed Anaplectus deconincki n. sp. in a clade with 1.00 posterior probability values with other Anaplectus. Partial sequences of the 18S and 28S regions of the ribosomal DNA gene were amplified for Anaplectus deconincki n. sp., and 18S rDNA showed 99% similarity with an unidentified Anaplectus (AJ966473) and A. porosus (MF622934) from Belgium. In addition, 28S rDNA showed a 93% similarity with A. porosus from Belgium (MF622938) and a 98% similarity with A. granulosus from Germany (MF325171). Measurements, illustrations, and light microscopy pictures for Anaplectus deconincki n. sp. are given.

Observation on Hemicriconemoides Brachyurus () Chitwood & Birchfield, 1957 Associated with Grass in South Africa.

Hemicriconemoides brachyurus was identified morphologically, using body annuli number (103105), stylet length (49-52 µm), tail conical with small rounded lobe, spermatheca with round sperm, and VL/VB (1.3). Molecular analysis was also undertaken, based on the 18S rDNA region, and the obtained DNA sequence data confirmed the present population from South Africa as Hemicriconemoides. Phylogenetic analysis using the Bayesian inference method places this population close to H. fujianensis from China (MH444620-21; MH444626-28). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the 18S rDNA sequence for H. brachyurus.

Description of Oscheius cyrus n. sp. (Nematoda: Rhabditidae) as new entomopathogenic nematode from Iran.

A new species of the genus Oscheius, Oscheius cyrus n. sp., collected in the moist soils taken from forest heights in the north of Iran, is recorded. A comprehensive description, comprising molecular (internal transcribed spacer (ITS), 18S, and 28S rDNA genes) information, morphometrics data, light microscope and scanning electron microscope images, is supplied. The species resembles Oscheius myriophilus. However, the highest ranges for female body length, female tail, infective juvenile tail length, median bulb, absence of epiptygma and lateral field incisures number vary. The new species was distinguished from Oscheius insectivorus by the general lip region. The male was not found. Molecular analysis showed that the new species has the most similarity to O. myriophilus both in the ITS and 18S regions. Morphological and molecular data confirmed its belonging to the Insectivora-group. Furthermore, the species of Ochrobactrum pseudogrignonense was reported as a dominant associated bacterium of the new Oscheius species. Finally, the mortality of the host after seven days varied from 20% to 82.5%, depending on nematodes' concentration.

Redescription of Diastolaimus grossus (Truskova & Eroshenko, 1977) Andrássy, 1984 (Rhabditida, Chambersiellidae) from Europe and comments on its phylogenetic position.

Two populations of the species Diastolaimus grossus have been obtained from bark of trees in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Czech Republic. The species is described and characterized in detail using morphological techniques (light and electron scanning microscopy) and morphometrical (Gower General Similarity coefficient of morphological characters) and molecular analyses, including phylogenetic analysis of all related and already sequenced species of the family Chambersiellidae. Morphological and molecular analyses, based on 18S and 28S ribosomal DNA sequences, show that the family Chambersiellidae is polyphyletic, being the subfamily Chambersiellinae related with Cephalobomorpha and Tylenchomorpha, and the subfamily Macrolaiminae is located into Panagrolaimomorpha. The genus Diastolaimus, previously belonging to Macrolaiminae, is transferred to Chambersiellinae. Diastolaimus mexicanus is proposed as a junior synonym of D. grossus.

First Report of Tripylina Zhejiangensis Associated with Grassland in South Africa.

Specimens of Tripylina zhejiangensis, collected from natural grass in the Free State Province of South Africa, were identified morphologically and molecularly. This species characterizes by body length (1037 - 1128 µm), a = 27.3 - 35.3, b = 5.1 - 5.6, c = 16.1 - 19.8, c' = 2.5 - 3.4, V = 62 - 65. Molecular analysis was also undertaken, based on the 28S rDNA regions, and confirmed this population as T. zhejiangensis. Phylogenetic analysis using the Bayesian inference method, places this population in a clade close to T. zhejiangensis with a 1.00 posterior probability value. According to the knowledge, this is the first report of the genus Tripylina and its species from South Africa. Besides, this is the second report of T. zhejiangensis worldwide after the original description from China.

First Report of Aphelenchoides Bicaudatus (Imamura, 1931) Filipjev and Schuurmans Stekhoven, 1941 Associated with Grass in South Africa.

Aphelenchoides bicaudatus associated with grass in South Africa was identified morphologically and molecularly. This population is characterized by a body length of 409 - 529 µm, a stylet length of 9.5 - 13 µm, a post-vulval uterine sac of 45 - 50 µm, and the characteristic tail bifurcated at the end with one prong longer than the other. Molecular analyses based on the 18S and ITS rDNA data confirmed the primary morphological identification of the A. bicaudatus species. The obtained phylogenetic trees revealed a close positioning of the South African population to other representatives of A. bicaudatus with the maximum (1.00) posterior probability value. Principal component analysis (PCA) also indicated a variation within the populations of A. bicaudatus. This is the first report of A. bicaudatus from South Africa.

First Report of Xiphinema Diffusum from Pakistan.

The population of Xiphinema americanum species group was detected from the soil surronding the roots of peach (Prunus persica) during a survey of plant-parasitic nematodes in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. From the results of the morphological study, the species was identified as X. diffusum. Morphometrics of X. diffusum generally agree with those of the type species and the topotype specimens. Molecular analysis of 18S rDNA of X. diffusum from Pakistan indicated two nucleotide differences and 99 % similarity with the Chinese (AM086669) and the Australian (AM086685) population of X. diffusum. Phylogenetic analysis of 18S rDNA placed the Pakistanis population close to X. diffusum from China and Australia. This species is reported for the first time from Pakistan.

Interactions between root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica and Fusarium wilt disease, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. Melonis in different varieties of melon.

Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis and root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne javanica) are destructive pathogens on cucurbits in Varamin area of Iran. The interaction between two pathogens was studied on local melon cultivars, Garmsar and Sooski. Inoculum of Meloidogyne javanica was prepared on susceptible cultivar, Rutgers using single egg mass method in greenhouse. Inoculum of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis (race 1) was prepared using Richard solution. A concentration of 2 x 10(5) micro conidia of fungus and 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000 eggs of nematode was used in 1 kg of autoclaved soil. Plants were inoculated with nematode at 2-3 leave stage then with fungus 2 weeks after nematode inoculation. The experiment was conducted in factoriel design based on CRD with 20 treatments, including varieties in 2 levels (Garmsar and Sooski), nematode in 5 levels (0, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000 eggs) and fungus in 2 levels (presence and absence) and 3 replicates. The index that evaluated were growth index including fresh and dry weight of shoot and root, height, Fusarium wilt index and root gall index. Results of this experiment showed that all of treatments comparison to control were significantly different (p = 0.05) in growth index. Combination of fungus and nematode (5000 eggs) caused the most decrease in growth index on Garmsar and Sooski.