A new species of catenaria parasitic on nematodes of sugarcane

Summary A new species,Catenaria vermicola, is named and described. It attacks several plant-parasitic nematodes of economic importance in sugarcane soils of Louisiana. The fungus forms numerous zoospores which encyst on the cuticle, generally near natural openings of the nematode, thereby causing infection. Within the parasitized nematodes hyphae and sporangia quickly form and destroy the victim completely. The following plant-parasitic nematodes were attacked and destroyed:Belonolaimus longicaudatus, Criconemoides rusticum, Hemicycliophora gigas, Hoplolaimus tylenchiformis, Meloidogyne larvae,Pratylenchus brachyurus, P. zeae, Radopholus similis, Tylenchulus semipenetrans larvae,Tylenchorhynchus martini, andXiphinema chambersi.