Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Talanema eshtiaghii sp. n. (Dorylaimida, Qudsianematidae) from Iran.

A new species of the genus Talanema, recovered from the northwest of Iran, was described based on morphological, morphometric, and molecular data. Talanema eshtiaghii sp. n. was characterized by its 1.45-1.68 mm long body, lip region offset by constriction and 13-15 µm wide, odontostyle 15-18 µm long, double guiding ring, neck 312-362 µm long, pharyngeal expansion occupying 41-43% of the total neck length, uterus tripartite, and 111-189 µm long or 2.1-3.2 body diameters, vulva transverse (V = 55-58), tail similar in both sexes, conical with a dorsal concavity (30-44 µm, c = 33-56, c' = 1.0-1.6), spicules 49-56 µm long, and 14-18 shortly spaced ventromedian supplements in front of the level of the anterior end of spicules, with distinct hiatus. It was compared to four closely similar species, with emphasis on the most relevant traits to distinguish them. Molecular phylogenetic studies using partial sequence of the 28S rDNA (D2-D3 segment) revealed that the new species forms a clade with other currently sequenced representatives of Talanema, tentatively supporting the monophyly of this genus.

New insights into the identity of Discolaimium dubium Das, Khan and Loof, 1969 (Dorylaimida) as derived from its morphological and molecular characterization, with the proposal of its transference to Aporcella Andrássy, 2002.

Three Iranian populations of Discolaimium dubium are studied, including their morphological and morphometric characterization, molecular analysis (LSU-rDNA) and the description of the male for the first time. For comparative purposes, this species is distinguished by its 1.10 to 1.40 mm long body, lip region offset by constriction and 8 to 10 µm wide, odontostyle 7.5 to 10.5 µm long with aperture occupying 59 to 76% of total length, neck 300 to 362 µm, pharyngeal expansion 127 to 181 µm long or 44 to 46% of the total neck length, uterus simple and 38 to 53 µm or 1.2 to 1.5 times the body diameter long, V = 52 to 58, tail conical (32-38 µm, c = 32-43, c' = 1.6-2.0) with rounded tip and a hyaline portion occupying 14 to 15% of tail length, spicules 30 to 32 µm long, and two or three widely space ventromedian supplements with hiatus. Both morphological and molecular data support its belonging to the genus Aporcella, whose monophyly is confirmed and to which the species is formally transferred as A. dubia (Das et al., 1969) comb. n.

Morphological and molecular characterization of Pungentus sufiyanensis n. sp. and additional data on P. engadinensis (Altherr, 1950) Altherr, 1952 (Dorylaimida: Nordiidae) from northwest of Iran.

Two species of the genus Pungentus, one new and one known, collected in natural vegetation and cultivated soils in northwest of Iran, are studied. Pungentus sufiyanensis n. sp. is characterized by its 1.22 to 1.57 mm long body, offset lip region by a constriction and 7 to 9 µm broad, 18 to 21 µm long odontostyle, 304 to 348 µm long neck, 133 to 161 µm long esophageal expansion, mono-opisthodelphic female genital system without anterior uterine sac, slightly backward directed vagina, absence of pars refringens vaginae, V = 47-54, rounded-conoid caudal region (17.5-23 µm, c = 65-84, c´ = 0.7-1) with saccate bodies, and the absence of male. Molecular analysis, based on D2-D3 expansion segments of the 28S rDNA (LSU), confirms the monophyly of the family Nordiidae and suggests the monophyly of the genus Pungentus, with the new species forming a clade with other Iranian species. New data are presented for six Iranian populations of P. engadinensis, and an updated key for the identification of Pungentus species is also provided.Two species of the genus Pungentus, one new and one known, collected in natural vegetation and cultivated soils in northwest of Iran, are studied. Pungentus sufiyanensis n. sp. is characterized by its 1.22 to 1.57 mm long body, offset lip region by a constriction and 7 to 9 µm broad, 18 to 21 µm long odontostyle, 304 to 348 µm long neck, 133 to 161 µm long esophageal expansion, mono-opisthodelphic female genital system without anterior uterine sac, slightly backward directed vagina, absence of pars refringens vaginae, V = 47−54, rounded-conoid caudal region (17.5­23 µm, c = 65­84, c´ = 0.7­1) with saccate bodies, and the absence of male. Molecular analysis, based on D2-D3 expansion segments of the 28S rDNA (LSU), confirms the monophyly of the family Nordiidae and suggests the monophyly of the genus Pungentus, with the new species forming a clade with other Iranian species. New data are presented for six Iranian populations of P. engadinensis, and an updated key for the identification of Pungentus species is also provided.

Description of a new dagger nematode, Xiphinema barooghii n. sp. (Nematoda: Longidoridae) and additional data on the three known species of the genus from northwest of Iran.

Xiphinema barooghii n. sp. collected from the rhizosphere of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Roodghat area, Sufiyan, East-Azarbaijan province, northwest of Iran, is described on the basis of the morphological, morphometric and molecular data. The new species belongs to morphospecies group 6 of the polytomous key prepared by Loof and Luc, 1990. Xiphinema barooghii n. sp. is characterized by having two almost equally developed female reproductive branches with spines in the tubular portion of the uterus, a body length of 3.67-4.25 mm, a flat lip region, rounded cephalic region, separated from body contour by a shallow depression, a spear 215-225 µm long, mid-body diameter of 60-79 µm, vulva (46-48%), a short tail (30-38 µm, c = 103-133, c' = 0.7-0.9), conoid, dorsally convex, ventrally directed with a small terminal peg and a distinct terminal blind canal, the presence of four juvenile stages and the absence of males. The polytomous identification codes of the new species are: A4, B3, C5a, D6, E5, F4, G3, H2, I3, J4, K2, L1. In addition to morphological and morphometric data, molecular analyses of the D2-D3 expansion regions of the 28S rDNA gene placed the new species as a sister species of X. herakliense (Group 5) with 65% Bayesian posterior probability and further separated this species from the other members in group 6. In this study, X. index, X. pachtaicum and X. vuittenezi were also collected and additional data for the species were provided.Xiphinema barooghii n. sp. collected from the rhizosphere of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Roodghat area, Sufiyan, East-Azarbaijan province, northwest of Iran, is described on the basis of the morphological, morphometric and molecular data. The new species belongs to morphospecies group 6 of the polytomous key prepared by Loof and Luc, 1990. Xiphinema barooghii n. sp. is characterized by having two almost equally developed female reproductive branches with spines in the tubular portion of the uterus, a body length of 3.67­4.25 mm, a flat lip region, rounded cephalic region, separated from body contour by a shallow depression, a spear 215­225 µm long, mid-body diameter of 60­79 µm, vulva (46­48%), a short tail (30­38 µm, c = 103­133, c' = 0.7­0.9), conoid, dorsally convex, ventrally directed with a small terminal peg and a distinct terminal blind canal, the presence of four juvenile stages and the absence of males. The polytomous identification codes of the new species are: A4, B3, C5a, D6, E5, F4, G3, H2, I3, J4, K2, L1. In addition to morphological and morphometric data, molecular analyses of the D2­D3 expansion regions of the 28S rDNA gene placed the new species as a sister species of X. herakliense (Group 5) with 65% Bayesian posterior probability and further separated this species from the other members in group 6. In this study, X. index, X. pachtaicum and X. vuittenezi were also collected and additional data for the species were provided.

Two new species of the rare genus Nygolaimoides Meyl in Andrássy, 1960 (Nematoda, Dorylaimida, Thorniidae) from Iran, with a compendium of its species.

Two new Nygolaimoides species are described and illustrated from soil and stumps of an old nursery of Populus alba, Miandoab County, West Azarbaijan province, Iran. Nygolaimoides zarrinensis sp. n. is characterized by its 0.73-0.94 mm long body, lip region 9.5-10.5 µm broad, odontostyle 9.5-11.0 µm long, neck length 162-194 µm long, pharyngeal expansion 78-83 µm long, V = 46-50, female tail short and rounded conoid (11-15 µm, c = 63-84, c' = 0.7-0.9), male tail rounded conoid (14-18 µm, c = 43-55, c' = 0.9-1.1), spicules 21-25 µm long and with irregular head, and two ventromedian supplements bearing hiatus. Nygolaimoides albus sp. n. is distinguished by its 0.64-0.95 mm long body, lip region 8-10 µm broad, odontostyle 9.5-11.0 µm long, neck length 164-200 µm long, pharyngeal expansion 66-72 µm long, V = 43-51, female tail hemispheroid (4.0-5.5 µm, c = 120-233, c' = 0.4-0.7), male tail conoid (9.0-12.0 µm, c = 58-78, c' = 0.7-1.0), spicules 13-17 µm long, and two ventromedian supplements bearing hiatus. SEM observations have been made for the first time for representatives of this genus. The taxonomy of the genus is updated with a list of its species, a key to their identification and a table-compendium of relevant morphometrics.

Margollus bokanicus n. sp. from Iran, the Fourth Species of a Rare Nematode Genus (Dorylaimida, Tylencholaimellidae).

Margollus bokanicus n. sp., collected from natural habitats in Khorasaneh district, Bokan, West Azarbaijan province, Iran, is described. Morphological and morphometric data are provided as well as drawings and light microscopy illustrations. The new species is characterized by a medium size body length (0.60 to 0.73 mm), labial and postlabial sclerotizations, lip region 7-µm wide, offset by constriction and long neck (167 to 207 µm), long pharyngeal basal bulb (27 to 36 µm) or 16% to 17% of total neck length, female genital system monodelphic-opisthodelphic, anterior branch reduced to a uterine sac (26-29 µm) or 1.1 to 1.3 times the body diameter, long posterior uterus (25-28 µm) or 1.1 to 1.3 times the body diameter, V = 40 to 47, cylindroid female tail (17 to 24 µm, c = 31 to 38, c' = 1.1 to 1.4), and males unknown. This taxon is easily distinguishable from other Margollus species by its smaller general size and more posterior vulva. A compendium of Margollus species is also presented.

Description of Crassolabium persicum sp. n. (Nematoda, Dorylaimida, Qudsianematidae), an interesting species from Iran.

A new species of the genus Crassolabium, Crassolabium persicumsp. n., collected from Arasbaran rangelands of Iran, is described and illustrated. It is characterized by its body 1.92-2.40 mm long, lip region offset by constriction and 17-19 µm wide, odontostyle 16-19 µm long with aperture occupying less than one-third (27-30%) its length, neck 428-690 µm long, pharyngeal expansion 369-390 µm long or occupying 54-56% of total neck length, female genital system amphidelphic, uterus bipartite and 162-218 µm long or 2.3-3.5 times as long as body diameter, pars refringens vaginae well developed, V = 54-57.5, vulva longitudinal, prerectum bearing a blind sac, tail conical with rounded tip to conoid (25-36 µm, c=60-69, c'=0.5-0.9), spicules 68-72 µm long, precloacal pair of supplements far (22-27 µm) from cloacal aperture, and 13-17 shortly spaced ventromedian supplements with hiatus. The new taxon is compared in depth to its relatives in Crassolabium as well as other similar species of Aporcelaimellus and Amblydorylaimus.