First Report of Bitylenchus hispaniensis, Pratylenchoides alkani, and Helicotylenchus vulgaris in Association with Cultivated and Wild Olives in Crete, Greece and Molecular Identification of Helicotylenchus microlobus and Merlinius brevidens

Abstract

Nematode samplings in cultivated and wild olive in Crete, Greece, yielded the presence of Bitylenchus hispaniensis, Helicotylenchus microlobus, Helicotylenchus vulgaris, Merlinius brevidens, and Pratylenchoides alkani. With the exception of H. microlobus and M. brevidens, reports of these plant-parasitic nematode species constitute new records for Greece. Bitylenchus hispaniensis is also reported for first time in a country outside of Spain, where it was originally described. Pratylenchoides alkani is herein reported for the second time in the Mediterranean area and for the first time in association with olive. Two further populations of H. microlobus and H. vulgaris, from walnut and goji berry from Greece, were identified. Molecular data for all of these nematode species are provided, resulting in the first integrative identification of these Greek populations.

Integrative taxonomy, distribution, and host associations of Geocenamus brevidens and Quinisulcius capitatus from southern Alberta, Canada

“…In our 28S phylogenetic trees, G. brevidens sequences formed two separated subclades. Our data of G. brevidens are coincident with the original descriptions as well as with other populations that have been described using integrative taxonomy ( Ghaderi et al, 2014 ; Tzortzakakis et al, 2018 ). Consequently, it is imperative to further investigate the populations that formed the second subclade.…”

“…Geraert (2011) mentioned that males were uncommon in G. brevidens ; the Canadian population was also found devoid of males. In the original and subsequent descriptions, the authors did not observe the presence of spermatheca in G. brevidens ( Allen, 1955 ; Alvani et al, 2017 ; Tzortzakakis et al, 2018 ). On the other hand, round-shaped spermathecae were found in the Canadian and Indian populations.…”

“…However, due to a lack of Quinisulcius sequences, phylogenetically close species cannot be determined. Clade (II) indicates that the Canadian population of G. brevidens grouped with G. brevidens populations from China (MT856989, unpublished), Iran (KP313844, Alvani et al, 2017 ), South Africa (MN262457, unpublished), Iran (KJ585416, Ghaderi et al, 2014 ), and Greece (MG770485, Tzortzakakis et al, 2018 ). However, a few additional populations of G. brevidens from Iran (KP313841, KP313842, KP313843, KP313845, KP313846, Alvani et al, 2017 ; MN947623, MN947623, unpublished) formed another subclade.…”

Differences in distribution and community structure of plant-parasitic nematodes in pecan orchards between two ecoregions of Georgia

“…were present in 41% soil samples with the highest population density of 637 nematodes/100 cm 3 soil collected from the rhizosphere of pecans. Associations of five different species of spiral nematodes (H. dihystera, H. digonicus, H. pseudorobustus, H. paragiris, and H. microlobus) with different nut trees (almond, apricot, and walnut) and stone fruits (cherry, peach, plum, and nectarine) have been also reported in California and Greece (Chitambar et al, 2018;Tzortzakakis et al, 2018) but there is virtually no information available on the association of specific species of spiral nematodes with pecans. In general, different species of spiral nematodes are found in the rhizosphere of different field and fruit crops, ornamental plants, turfgrasses, weeds, and nut crops but they are not considered economically important pests on many host crops, excepting H. multicinctus, H. paaxilli, and H. microlobus, which are considered serious pests of banana (McSorley and Parrado, 1983) and turfgrasses (Jagdale et al, 2020;Pang et al, 2011Pang et al, , 2012.…”

“…host plant occurrence and abundance) factors (Bakonyi and Nagy, 2000;Freckman and Ettema, 1993;Kandji et al, 2001;Norton, 1989;Yeates, 1999). In agricultural systems, cultural practices like tillage, crop rotation, and addition of inputs can alter physical and chemical properties of soil that in turn can modify abundances and community structures of nematodes (Porazinska et al, 1999;Timper et al, 2012). For example, incorporation of organic soil amendments and fertilizers, such as compost, can change soil Community structure of pecan plant-parasitic nematodes: Jagdale et al…”