Evolution of Parasitism in Insect-transmitted Plant Nematodes

Nematode-insect associations have evolved many times in the phylum Nematoda, but these lineages involve plant parasitism only in the Secernentean orders Aphelenchida and Tylenchida. In the Aphelenchida (Aphelenchoidoidea), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Pine wood nematode), B. cocophilus (Red ring or Coconut palm nematode) (Parasitaphelenchidae), and the many potential host-specific species of Schistonchus (fig nematodes) (Aphelenchoididae) nematode-insect interactions probably evolved independently from dauer-forming, mycophagous ancestors that were phoretically transmitted to breeding sites of their insect hosts in plants. Mycophagy probably gave rise to facultative or obligate plant-parasitism because of opportunities due to insect host switches or peculiarities in host behavior. In the Tylenchida, there is one significant radiation of insect-associated plant parasites involving Fergusobia nematodes (Fergusobiinae: Neotylenchidae) and Fergusonina (Fergusoninidae) flies as mutualists that gall myrtaceous plant buds or leaves. These dicyclic nematodes have different phases that are parasitic in either the insect or the plant hosts. The evolutionary origin of this association is unclear.     

滑刃属一新种记述(滑刃目,滑刃科)

2002年从山东省乳山市牛筋草的根际土壤中发现滑刃属1新种,类刷尾滑刃线虫 Aphelenchoides parabrushmucronatus sp.nov,.该虫具有以下特征:雌虫虫体中等;唇区较高,缢缩明显;中食道球卵圆形;生殖系统发育良好,卵母细胞单列,受精囊和后阴子宫囊都含较大的圆形精子;雌虫尾圆柱形,尾端中间具有1试管刷状尾尖突.A.appendurus Singh,1967在形态上与新种相似,区别在于前者有两条侧线,虫体和口针更长,尾巴相对较短(L=720-880μm;stylet=16～17μm;tail=38.4μm).A.seiachicus Nesterov,1973在形态上也与新种相似,区别在于前者虫体更小,口针、尾巴更短(L=370-420μm;stylet=9.5μm;c'=3).     

滑刃属一新种——盘尾滑刃线虫的描述(滑刃目,滑刃科)

2002年从中国山东省乳山市大画眉草Eragrostis cilianensis的根际土壤中发现滑刃属1新种盘尾滑刃线虫Aphelenchoides disccaudatus sp.nov.。雌虫具有以下特征:虫体小,侧线3条;唇区较高,缢缩明显;尾钩状,末端具平盘状尾尖突。雄虫未见。     

中国滑刃属一新种记述(滑刃目,滑刃科)

2001～2002年从山东省青州市韭菜Allium tuberosum的根际土壤中发现滑刃属Aphelenchoides1新种,定名为韭菜滑刃线虫Aphelenchoides alliussp.nov.。该虫具有以下特征:虫体大型;唇区缢缩,口针较长,无口针基部球;侧区具有6条侧线;生殖系统发育良好,卵巢具1～2个转折,卵母细胞单列;尾细锥形,末端收缩呈细指状,平截,刺状尾尖突生于其上;雄虫常见,尾钩状,末端具刺状尾尖突,交合刺典型,顶尖和喙突明显。已报道种中有8个种与新种相似,其中5个种虫体体长较短,小于500μm,易与新种分开,它们是:细尖滑刃线虫A.conimucronatus(L=280～440μm),高头滑刃线虫A.editocaputis(L=270～320μm),高山滑刃线虫A.montanus(L=390～400μm),稀少滑刃线虫A.rarus(L=300～320μm),沃恩滑刃线虫A.vaughani(L=360～430μm)。另3个种与新种相比较:中心滑刃线虫A.centralis侧线4条,尾巴较长,雄虫不常见;陶比恰滑刃线虫A.daubichaensis侧线4条,口针较短且有小的基部球,后阴子宫囊较短,卵巢无转折;一点红滑刃线虫A.emiliae口针基部球发达,中食道球椭圆形,更大19μm×15μm,后阴子宫囊较短。