Molecular and morphological characterization of Ektaphelenchoides maafiae n. sp. (Nematoda: Ektaphelenchinae) from northern forests of Iran

Abstract

Ektaphelenchoides maafiae n. sp. was isolated during a survey of nematodes associated with bark samples of an oak tree (Quercus castaneifolia) in Gorgan, Golestan Province, northern Iran. The new species has a body length of 480–546 μm (in females) and 431–480 μm (in males). The cuticle is weakly annulated, with three lateral lines. Lip region offset. The stylet is 13–15 μm long without basal swellings. The excretory pore is located at the level of the metacorpus base to slightly posterior, and hemizonid is at 15–17 μm posterior to the excretory pore. The post‐uterine sac is short, 6–8 μm long. Spicules having rounded condylus, rostrum short, conical with bluntly pointed tip, a cucullus (apophysis) presented on the dorsal distal end. Male tail bearing four (2 + 2) caudal papillae, conical, with sharply pointed terminus. The new species is close to four known species of the genus, including E. hunti, E. ruehmi, E. caspiensis and E. poinari, but differs from them by body size, shape of tail terminus, stylet length, shape and size of spicules, length of post‐vulval uterine sac and number of caudal papillae. Phylogenetic analysis based on small subunit (SSU) and partial large subunit (LSU) sequences of rDNA confirmed its status as a new species.

Morphological and molecular characterization of Ektaphelenchoides pini (Massey, 1966) Baujard, 1984 (Aphelenchoididae; Ektaphelenchinae) from Iran, with morphological and taxonomic observations on some species

“…As already known, the three ektaphelenchid genera including Ektaphelenchoides, Ektaphelenchus, and Devibursaphelenchus are not monophyletic based on these genomic markers (e.g. Pedram, 2019).…”

“…The detailed study of Ektaphelenchoides maafiae (Golhasan et al, 2019) revealed that it has close morphology with E. tonekabonensis (Aliramaji et al, 2019a) and has some minor morphometric differences, e.g. slightly longer stylet (13-15 vs 10.5-12.0 µm) in females and smaller c´ (3.4-4.5 vs 6.5-8.3) in males.…”

“…However, according to light microphotographs ( Fig. 2A, E in Golhasan et al, 2019), its stylet length is calculated 12 µm and the c´ value of male is calculated 5.85, and by identical 28S rDNA D2-D3 (few differences were observed that could be due to the quality of the reading of the sequence or its editing artefacts), and based on the Principle of Priority, is proposed as a junior synonym of E. tonekabonensis. The species lacks the cloacal pair of male caudal papillae (P2) (the observation of Aliramaji et al, 2019 is amended herein).…”

“…A compendium of the known species of the genus was given by Aliramaji et al (2014). Since then, six further species were added to the genus (Esmaeili et al, 2014(Esmaeili et al, , 2018Aliramaji et al, 2015Aliramaji et al, , 2019aAliramaji et al, , 2019bGolhasan et al, 2019), and it currently contains 18 species (http://www. organismnames.com).…”

Basilaphelenchus hyrcanus n. sp. (Rhabditida: Tylaphelenchinae) associated with bark of a beech tree (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) from northern Iran

“…Nematode DNA was extracted from a single individual and PCR performed as described by Golhasan et al (2016). A single live nematode was selected, examined on a temporary slide and transferred to a small drop of TE buffer (10 mM Tris-Cl, 0.5 mM EDTA; pH 9.0, Qiagen) on a clean slide and cut into small pieces using a sterilised razor blade.…”