Morphological and molecular characterisation of Paralongidorus rex Andrássy, 1986 (Nematoda: Longidoridae) from Poland and Ukraine

Abstract

Paralongidorus rex was found for the first time in Poland and Ukraine. This paper describes females and juveniles from four populations of this species on the basis of morphology and morphometrics and provides molecular characterization using 18S, ITS1 and D2-D3 expansion segments of 28S rRNA gene sequences. Morphometrically, females from these populations differed slighty in V ratio (means in four populations: 41.9; 42.7; 46.1; 46.8) and odontostylet length (166.6; 170.6; 191.5; 193.2). Phylogenetic analysis showed that P. rex had a sister relationship with P. iranicus. PCR-D2-D3 of 28S-RFLP diagnostic profiles with five enzymes are given. Additionally, information on new host plants and map of distribution for P. rex are provided. The new record of this nematode species, previously identified as Paralongidorus sp. (GenBank: AY601582) from Slovakia, is defined based on comparison of sequences of the D2-D3 expansion segments of 28S rRNA gene. Finally, remarks on the potential importance of this species in grapevine production are given.