Grażyna Winiszewska

MORPHOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR FEATURES OF PUNCTODERA STONEI BRZESKI, 1998 (NEMATODA: HETERODERIDAE) - SPECIES ASSOCIATED WITH ROOTS OF GRASSES

Abstract. This article provides morphological and molecular characteristics of Punctodera stonei Brzeski, 1998. Comparison of partial sequences of 18S and 28S rDNA genes from P. stonei sampled in Poland and Punctodera sp. from Canada showed their 100% similarity. This is the first report on the occurrence of P. stonei outside of Europe. We provide data on morphology of males and 2nd stage juveniles of this species and an identification key to males of the genus Punctodera Mulvey et Stone, 1976. Moreover, the paper presents evolutionary relationships of P. stonei within the family Heteroderidae.

Morphological and molecular analysis of Paratrichodorus teres (Hooper 1962) (Nematoda: Trichodoridae): a groundwork for discussion on the phylogeny and pathogenicity of Paratrichodorus species

Due to its ability to transmit plant viruses, Paratrichodorus teres (Hooper in Nematologica, 7, 273–280, 1962) is recognized as an economically important trichodorid species. Morphological and molecular analyses (18S and 28S rDNA) were performed, and 10 new plant hosts are reported for Polish P. teres populations. Major morphological features and the measurements obtained for the investigated specimens were within the wide ranges indicated for this species. However, a more detailed comparative analysis of Polish and Iranian P. teres showed significant morphological differences, particularly, in the shape and the structure of the walls of pars proximalis vaginae and the shape of the rectum.Phylogenetic study based on the 18S rDNA data suggests positioning of the Polish P. teres sequences within a cluster of sequences originating from the Netherlands. A comparison of the 28S rDNA fragment from Polish populations with the only P. teres 28S rDNA sequence available (from Iran) in GenBank revealed a sequence variability of 9.3%. The variation across these two representatives was higher than in the case of many other pairs of Trichodoridae species. The results obtained on the Polish P. teres specimens are discussed in the framework of the species taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships.

How anthropogenic changes may affect soil-borne parasite diversity? Plant-parasitic nematode communities associated with olive trees in Morocco as a case study

BackgroundPlant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) are major crop pests. On olive (Olea europaea), they significantly contribute to economic losses in the top-ten olive producing countries in the world especially in nurseries and under cropping intensification. The diversity and the structure of PPN communities respond to environmental and anthropogenic forces. The olive tree is a good host plant model to understand the impact of such forces on PPN diversity since it grows according to different modalities (wild, feral and cultivated olives). A wide soil survey was conducted in several olive-growing regions in Morocco. The taxonomical and the functional diversity as well as the structures of PPN communities were described and then compared between non-cultivated (wild and feral forms) and cultivated (traditional and high-density olive cultivation) olives.ResultsA high diversity of PPN with the detection of 117 species and 47 genera was revealed. Some taxa were recorded for the first time on olive trees worldwide and new species were also identified. Anthropogenic factors (wild vs cultivated conditions) strongly impacted the PPN diversity and the functional composition of communities because the species richness, the local diversity and the evenness of communities significantly decreased and the abundance of nematodes significantly increased in high-density conditions. Furthermore, these conditions exhibited many more obligate and colonizer PPN and less persister PPN compared to non-cultivated conditions. Taxonomical structures of communities were also impacted: genera such as Xiphinema spp. and Heterodera spp. were dominant in wild olive, whereas harmful taxa such as Meloidogyne spp. were especially enhanced in high-density orchards.ConclusionsOlive anthropogenic practices reduce the PPN diversity in communities and lead to changes of the community structures with the development of some damaging nematodes. The study underlined the PPN diversity as a relevant indicator to assess community pathogenicity. That could be taken into account in order to design control strategies based on community rearrangements and interactions between species instead of reducing the most pathogenic species.

Tigronchoides andrassyi sp. nov. (Nematoda: Anatonchidae), New Mononch with Longitudinal Vulva From Baltic Coastal Dune in Poland

Abstract. Tigronehoides andrassyi sp. nov. from Baltic coastal dune in Poland is described and illustrated. New species is characterized by medium body length (females 2.25–2.65 mm, males 2.27–2.72 mm), spacious buccal cavity (females 57.1-60.0 × 49.3-53.9 µm, males 49.5-52.4 × 41.2-43.3 µm), relatively high position of teeth apices (females 29.2–33.6%, males 39.9–42.5% ), longitudinal vulva with clearly separated sclerotizations, short and evenly tapered tail with cone-shaped posterior part.

Morphological Characteristics of Mesocriconema involutum (Loof, 1987) (Nematoda: Tylenchida: Criconematidae)

Abstract. This article provides new morphological data about Mesocriconema involutum (Loof, 1987) Loof, 1989, a very rare European nematode species. This is the first report on its occurrence in Poland and the third record in Europe. Specimens of M. involutum described in this article were collected from the rhizosphere of grass on the bank of Lake Kielno (northern part of Poland). The research allowed to determine the presence of two projections on the anterior vulval lip, which previously had not been described for this species. A detailed description of the tails terminal annulus is also given.