Variation in ITS and 28S rDNA of bursaphelenchus species (nematoda: Parasitaphelenchidae)

Abstract

Internal transcribed spacers and 28S D2/D3 domain of rDNA were used to infer the phylogenetic relationships among Bursaphelenchus species, with special emphasis on members of the xylophilus and fungivorus groups. Sequence alignments and phylogenetic analysis using neighbour-joining and maximum parsimony algorithms resulted in trees with similar topologies. The 17 Bursaphelenchus species examined can be separated into two main branches: the first includes members of the xylophilus group and the second includes the species of the fungivorus group, separated from the remaining species B. eremus, B. hofmanni, B. rainulfi and B. yongensis. As far as known, the species of the xylophilus group are phoretically associated with longhorn beetles. The phylogenetic analysis revealed the digger bee associated B. abruptus as the basal taxon of the species investigated or at least of the xylophilus group. The remainder of the species are, as far as known, associated with bark beetles and a soil-dwelling bee in case of B. seani. The significantly supported groups are largely. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.