Viswa Venkat Gantait

A new species of the genus Discolaimus Cobb, 1913 (Qudsianematidae: Dorylaimida) from West Bengal, India with revised key to the genus

A new species of dorylaimid nematode, collected from rhizospheric soil of banana plantation (Musa paradisiaca L. cv. Kanthali) in Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal, India is being described and illustrated. Discolaimus dhanachandi n. sp. comes close to D. affinis Loof, 1964 and D. elegans Sauer and Annells, 1985. But differs significantly in having large odontostyle, spear aperture occupying more than half of its length, prerectal and rectal length less than anal body width, asymmetrical ovary and slightly longer tail than anal body diameter. Besides, D. dhanachandi n. sp. differs from D. affinis in the values of c and V, and from D. elegans in the values of a, b and c. Species key of the genus Discolaimus is also provided.

Studies on soil and plant parasitic nematodes associated with banana in West Midnapur, West Bengal, India

During a taxonomic survey from March 2004 to February 2006, a total of 46 species of soil and plant parasitic nematodes, associated with banana plantations (Musa paradisiaca L. cv. Kanthali) have been encountered from different localities of Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal, India. Of these, 29 species belonging to 21 genera were recorded under the order Dorylaimida and 17 species belonging to 11 genera were under the order Tylenchida. Most of the species are represented through female sex. The typical plant parasitic nematode genus Helicotylenchus Steiner, 1945 holds maximum number of species.