Bursaphelenchus mucronatus (Nematoda: Parasitaphelenchidae) associated with Monochamus galloprovincialis from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Georgia.

Bursaphelenchus mucronatus was detected in association with the pine sawyer beetle (Monochamus galloprovincialis) during the implementation and testing of cross traps with insect attractants as an efficient tool for detection survey for pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Georgia in 2017 and 2018, respectively. This nematode was characterized by morphological, morphometric and molecular features. This is the first report of B. mucronatus in association with a M. galloprovincialis in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Georgia.

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 the Pale Potato Cyst Nematode Globodera pallida from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Potato cyst nematodes (PCN), the golden cyst nematode Globodera rostochiensis (Woll.) Bahrens, and the pale potato cyst nematode G. pallida (Stone) stand out by their remarkable and efficient parasitic adaptations causing high economic losses in potato production worldwide. They are A2 quarantine pests in EPPO countries as well as in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Up to now, only G. rostochiensis was reported from Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2011 (1). A systematic survey on the presence of PCN on entire territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina started in 2011. During the PCN survey, each year 120 soil samples of 1.5 liters were collected in the Republic of Srpska, one of the two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The samples were collected by soil auger 10 cm in length with a diameter of 1.5 cm consisting of 100 cores. Entire samples were processed by Seinhorst elutriator (4). In autumn of 2012, PCN viable cysts were found in two soil samples originating from one field. From one sample, 12 cysts were extracted, and 2 from another sample. The morphology of cysts and second stage juveniles and molecular analysis established the identity of this species as pale cyst nematode G. pallida (3). In addition, the sequencing of the ribosomal DNA region revealed unequivocal similarity to G. pallida (GenBank Accession No. HF968449), while PCR-RFLP analysis (2) showed European type of G. pallida. The infested field is located in Rogatica, 70 km east of Sarajevo, which is one of the main seed and potato production areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The field history revealed that farm-propagated, farm-saved seed potatoes could spread the nematodes to other fields as well. Therefore, 26 additional samples were taken from the fields that belong to the infested field owner and the surrounding fields, but no cysts were found in additional samples. To determine infestation focus and its size, the infested field (1.1 ha) was divided into 46 plots (25 × 10 m) and resampled by taking samples of 60 cores per plot. The detailed sampling of the field revealed a high infestation of 1 cyst per gram of soil in the infestation focus. The high infestation level and the propagation of farm-own seed potatoes suggest that the introduction of G. pallida might have occurred several years ago, probably with imported seed potatoes. The infested field was subjected to the phytosanitary measure of banning potato production for a period of 6 years with the possibility of its prolongation, if cysts with live content are found afterward. It is expected that the nematode is present in other fields due to the farmer's practices of propagating farm-saved seed potatoes and deficient field machinery hygiene. Therefore, the whole area will be intensively monitored for the presence of PCN in the future. An adequate pest management plan will be prepared after PCN pathotype identification. To our knowledge, only one field was found infested with G. pallida during the 3-year PCN survey in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Strict phytosanitary measures for preventing further PCN introductions and spreading should be intensified. References: (1) I. Ostojic et al. Plant Dis. 95:883, 2011. (2) S. Sirca et al. Phytopathol. Mediterr. 49:361, 2010. (3) A. M. Skantar et al. J. Nematol. 39:133, 2007. (4) J. van Bezooijen. Methods and Techniques for Nematology, Wageningen University, 2006.