QTL mapping for physiology, yield and plant architecture traits in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) grown under well-watered versus water-stress conditions

Increasing scarcity of irrigation water is a major threat to sustainable production of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Identifying genomic regions contributing to abiotic stress tolerance will help develop cotton cultivars suitable for water-limited regions through molecular marker-assisted breeding. A molecular mapping F2 population was derived from an intraspecific cross of the drought sensitive G. hirsutum cv. FH-901 and drought tolerant G. hirsutum cv. RH-510. Field data were recorded on physiological traits (osmotic potential and osmotic adjustment); yield and its component traits (seedcotton yield, number of bolls/plant and boll weight); and plant architecture traits (plant height and number of nodes per plant) for F2, F2:3 and F2:4 generations under well-watered versus water-limited growth conditions. The two parents were surveyed for polymorphism using 6500 SSR primer pairs. Joinmap3.0 software was used to construct linkage map with 64 polymorphic markers and it resulted into 35 markers mapped on 12 linkage groups. QTL analysis was performed by composite interval mapping (CIM) using QTL Cartographer2.5 software. In total, 7 QTLs (osmotic potential 2, osmotic adjustment 1, seedcotton yield 1, number of bolls/plant 1, boll weight 1 and plant height 1) were identified. There were three QTLs (qtlOP-2, qtlOA-1, and qtlPH-1) detected only in water-limited conditions. Two QTLs (qtlSC-1 and qtlBW-1) were detected for relative values. Two QTLs (qtlOP-1 and qtlBN-1) were detected for well-watered treatment. Significant QTLs detected in this study can be employed in MAS for molecular breeding programs aiming at developing drought tolerant cotton cultivars

Axonchium Cobb 1920

Genus Axonchium Cobb, 1920 Syn. Axonchium (Hypaxonchium Coomans & Nair, 1975) Axonchium (Poraxonchium Coomans & Nair, 1975) Diagnosis. Small to large-sized (1.1–3.6 mm) nematodes; body almost straight to open C-shaped upon fixation. Cuticle usually smooth which appears finely transversely striated at higher magnification; lateral chords with or without distinct glandular bodies. Lip region offset, lips separate, conoid with demarcated inner portion. Odontostyle short fusiform or cylindroid; guiding ring usually simples; odontophore rod-like with thickened walls, usually equal to odontostyle length. Pharynx long, anterior slender part muscular; both parts separated by a constriction or a short-isthmus-like narrowing; basal expanded part of pharynx usually very long, enclosed in weakly to strongly developed sheath of nearly straight muscles. Cardia long, muscular. Female genital system mono-opisthodelphic, anterior genital branch varying in length, mostly with degenerate, non-functional ovary. Vulva transverse, rarely longitudinal or oval; vagina usually wide and with longitudinally striated walls; pars refringens vaginae absent. Males with well-developed massive, straight to ventrally arcuate spicules; sclerotised, rod-like lateral guiding pieces with distal bifid ends and spaced ventromedian supplements. Tail broadly rounded or convex-conoid, similar in sexes. Type species: A. amplicolle Cobb, 1920 = Dorylaimus (Axonchium) amplicollis (Cobb, 1920) Micoletzky, 1922 = Discolaimium pakistanicum Timm & Bhuiyan, 1963 = A. amphidium Thorne, 1964 = A. mauritiense Williams, 1958 Other species: A. bihariense Popovici, 1990 A. bulbosum Williams, 1958 A. camelliae Dhanam and Jairajpuri, 1998 A. cephalatum (Schuurmans-Stekhoven, 1951), Andrássy, 1986 = Dorylaimus cephalatus Schuurmans-Stekhoven, 1951 = Eudorylaimus cephalatus (Schuurmans-Stekhoven, 1951) Andrássy, 1959 A. cingulatum Nair, 1973 A. covercolli Dhanam and Jairajpuri, 1998 A. dubium Siddiqi, 1995 A. elegans Jairajpuri, 1964 A. geminum Coomans and Nair, 1975 A. heynsi Nair, 1973 A. hosakodii Dhanam and Jairajpuri, 1998 A. khasianum Rehman, Jairajpuri and Ahmad, 1985 A. labiatum Thorne, 1939 A. latespiculatum Nair, 1973 A. manalicum Ali, Jairajpuri and Coomans, 1975 A. meghalayense n. sp. A. metobtusicaudatum (Sch.- Stekhoven and Teunissen, 1938) Nair and Coomans, 1973 = Dorylaimus metobtusicaudatum Sch. - Stekhoven and Teunissen, 1938 = Eudorylaimus metobtusicaudatus (Sch.- Stekhoven and Teunissen, 1938) Andrássy, 1959 = A. gossypii De Coninck, 1962 A. monohysteroides (Altherr, 1974) Andrássy, 1990 = Discolaimium monohysteroides Altherr, 1974 A. neoeletum Rehman, Jairajpuri and Ahmad, 1985 A. nitidum Jairajpuri, 1964 A. noreasum n. sp. A. parasaccatum Rehman, Jairajpuri and Ahmad, 1985 A. perplexans Siddiqi, 1995 A. phukani Rehman, Jairajpuri and Ahmad, 1985 A. propinquum (De Man, 1906) Thorne, 1939 = Dorylaimus tenuicollis var. propinqua De Man A. sabulum (Yeates, 1967) Coomans and Yeates, 1967 = Discolaimium sabuli Yeates, 1967 A. saccatum Jairajpuri, 1964 A. shamimi Baqri and Khera, 1976 A. siddiqii Coomans and Nair, 1975 A. sinclairi Heyns and Furstenberg, 1993 A. subeletum Gambhir and Dhanachand, 1990 A. thoubalicum Dhanachand and Jairajpuri, 1981 A. tochigiense Khan and Araki, 2002 A. transkeinse Nair, 1973 A. vallum Ahmad and Jairajpuri, 1982 A. variable Coomans and Nair, 1975 Remarks. The shape and size of vagina, degree of development of anterior genital branch, the shape and size of spicules and the number and arrangement of ventromedian supplements are most important diagnostic characters for species delimitation in this genus. Both male and female genitalia are highly diversified in this group. In no other nematode genus has such a level of diversity in these structures been recorded.Published as part of Naz, Tabbasam & Ahmad, Wasim, 2012, Description of two new and five known species of the genus Axonchium Cobb, 1920 (Nematoda: Dorylamida) from India with diagnostic compendia and keys to species of the genera Axonchium and Syncheilaxonchium Coomans & Nair, 1975, pp. 1-37 in Zootaxa 3264 on pages 2-4, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21507

Syncheilaxonchium Coomans & Nair 1975, n. comb.

Genus Syncheilaxonchium Coomans & Nair, 1975 Coomans and Nair (1975) proposed the subgenus Syncheilaxonchium as one of the subgenera of the genus Axonchium Cobb, 1920 and differentiated it from other subgenera of this genus mainly in the presence of a continuous lip region with amalgamated lips. They (l.c.) designated Axonchium (Syncheilaxonchium) rotundum Thorne, 1964 as the type species and also included A. (S.) amalgans Thorne, 1939; A. (S.) asacculum Siddiqi, 1968; A. (S.) baldum Thorne, 1964; A. (S.). coomansi Nair, 1975; A. (S.). deconincki Nair, 1975; A. (S.) indicum Siddiqi, 1964 and A. (S.). nairi Altherr, 1974 under this subgenus. Andrássy (2009), while raising this subgenus to generic rank, transferred Axonchium banaticum Popovici, 1990 (= Syncheilaxonchium banaticum (Popovici, 1990) Andrássy, 2009) and Axonchium perplexans Siddiqi, 1995 (= Syncheilaxonchium perplexans (Siddiqi, 1995) Andrássy, 2009) to Syncheilaxonchium without giving any reason. Although A. banaticum has a continuous lip region and suitably fits under the generic diagnosis of Syncheilaxonchium; A. perplexans, because of its offset lip region, does not. Naz et al. (2007) described Axonchium sturhani and Axonchium parassaculum, from New Zealand and Ahmad & Naz (2010 b) described Axonchium singaporense from Singapore. These three species have a continuous lip region with amalgamated lips. The main distinguishing character between these two genera is the nature of the lip region:, Axonchium has an offset lip region and partly or distinctly separate lips whereas the lip region is continuous in Syncheilaxonchium and the lips are completely amalgamated. Because of the presence of continuous lip region with amalgamated lips, the above three species completely fit under the generic diagnosis of Syncheilaxonchium and hence are being transferred here to the genus Syncheilaxonchium as Syncheilaxonchium sturhani (Naz et al., 2007) n. comb.; S. parassaculum (Naz et al., 2007) n. comb. and S. singaporense (Ahmad & Naz, 2010 b) n. comb. With the transfer of these three species, the total number of valid species under Syncheilaxonchium comes to twelve. Diagnosis. Small to large-sized (0.9–2.9 mm) nematodes; body almost straight to open C-shaped upon fixation. Cuticle usually smooth which appears finely transversely striated at higher magnification; lateral chords with or without distinct glandular bodies. Lip region rounded, continuous with body conour; lips amalgamated. Odontostyle short fusiform; guiding ring usually simples; odontophore rod-like with thickened walls, usually equal to odontostyle length. Anterior part of pharynx more or less muscular, separated from the postertior part by deep constriction or a short isthmus. Female genital system mono-opisthodelphic with or without prevulval sac. Vulva transverse; pars refringens vaginae absent. Males with well-developed massive, straight to ventrally arcuate spicules; sclerotised, rod-like lateral guiding pieces with distal bifid ends and spaced ventromedian supplements. Tail bluntly rounded or slightly clavate, similar in sexes. Type species: Syncheilaxonchium rotundum (Thorne, 1964) Coomans & Nair, 1975 = Axonchium rotundum Thorne, 1964Published as part of Naz, Tabbasam & Ahmad, Wasim, 2012, Description of two new and five known species of the genus Axonchium Cobb, 1920 (Nematoda: Dorylamida) from India with diagnostic compendia and keys to species of the genera Axonchium and Syncheilaxonchium Coomans & Nair, 1975, pp. 1-37 in Zootaxa 3264 on page 35, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21507

Axonchium phukani Rahman, Jairajpuri & Ahmad 1985

Axonchium phukani Rahman, Jairajpuri & Ahmad, 1985 (Figs. 7–8) Measurements. Table 4. Description. Female: Cuticle 2–3 µm thick at mid body and 6–9 µm on tail. Lateral chords about one-fourth of body width at mid body. Lip region offset by constriction, about one-sixth of body width at neck base; lips separate. Amphids cupshaped, their aperture about two-thirds or 0.8 times lip region width. Odontostyle 1.0– 1.2 times lip region width long. Odontophore 1.1–1.3 times the odontostyle length. Anterior part of pharynx muscular, separated from the posterior expanded part by a deep constriction, the latter occupying about 60–70 % of total neck length. Cardia conoid, about one-third of the corresponding body width long. Anterior genital branch represented by a simple uterine sac, 80–150 µm long, filled with sperms and provided with a proximal constriction. Posterior branch well developed; ovary reflexed, not reaching the oviductuterus junction, measuring 50–112 µm; oviduct measuring 80–115 µm, consisting of a long slender part with prismatic cells and a slightly wider pars dilatata filled with sperms; well developed sphincter present at oviduct-uterus junction. Uterus filled with sperms, measuring 60–110 µm, tripartite, having a distal dilated bulb-like part with wide lumen, intermediate narrow convoluted part with narrow lumen and a proximal wide tubular part. Vagina straight, extending inwards about half of the corresponding body width; pars proximalis vaginae 15–23 µm long; pars refringens vaginae absent; pars distalis vaginae 4–5 µm with slightly concave walls. Prerectum 4.2–6.4 times anal body width long. Rectum about one anal body width long. Tail broadly rounded, 0.8–0.9 times anal body width long. Caudal pores two on each side. Male: Spicules dorylaimoid, ventrally curved with bluntly rounded distal ends, 1.3–1.5 times the cloacal body width long, inner walls heavily sclerotized. Lateral guiding pieces slender, rod-like with bifid distal ends, about one-fourth of the spicule length. Supplements consisting of an adcloacal pair and four to five spaced ventromedians, starting anterior to the range of spicules. Prerectum 5.5–6.5 times cloacal body width long. Rectum about as long as cloacal body width. Tail broadly rounded, 0.8–0.9 times cloacal body width. Caudal pores two on each side. Characters Females Males Paratype female Paratype male Habitat and locality. From soil around the roots of forest trees (unidentified), from Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India. GPS coordinate 26.64071 / 93.39958; latitude 26 o 36 ’N, longitude 93 o 28 ’E Remarks. Rahman et al. (1985) described this species from Meghalaya and Assam in India and Jongkar in Bhutan. The present population from Assam conforms well to the original description. A paratype female and a male of this species available in the collection of the Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University were also examined and were found to fit well with the present population, except that the present specimens are slightly more robust (a = 32.8–40.6 vs 42). This species is closely related to A. heynsi Nair, 1973 and A. thoubalicum Dhanachand & Jairajpuri, 1981. From the former it differs in having a shorter prerectum (5.5–6.5 anal body widths vs 10–15 anal body widths long), longer tail (c = 48–58 vs c = 73–108) and in spicule shape (vs stout with a blunt posterior projection at the distal end, sometimes inner walls irregularly crenate). From A. thoubalicum, it differs in the nature of anterior uterine sac (presence vs absence of proximal constriction), in the absence of characteristic swollen portion near the distal end of the middle piece of spicules and in the shape of lateral guiding pieces (vs simple rod-like).Published as part of Naz, Tabbasam & Ahmad, Wasim, 2012, Description of two new and five known species of the genus Axonchium Cobb, 1920 (Nematoda: Dorylamida) from India with diagnostic compendia and keys to species of the genera Axonchium and Syncheilaxonchium Coomans & Nair, 1975, pp. 1-37 in Zootaxa 3264 on pages 16-19, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21507

Syncheilaxonchium Coomans & Nair 1971

Key to species of the genus Syncheilaxonchium Coomans & Nair, 1971 1 Anterior genital branch completely absent.................................................................. 2 - Anterior genital branch present........................................................................... 4 2 Constriction between two parts of pharynx very deep, abutting each other................................. asacculum - Constriction between two parts of pharynx not very deep...................................................... 3 3 Lip region truncate; almost indistinct constriction between two parts of pharynx; two caudal pores on each side...................................................................................................... parassaculum - Lip region rounded; isthmus-like structure present between two parts of pharynx; one caudal pore on each side... banaticum 4 Vagina directed posteriad............................................................................... 5 - Vagina straight........................................................................................ 7 5 Lip region rounded with distinct cephalic sclerotization............................................. singaporense - Lip region without cephalic sclerotization.................................................................. 6 6 Cardia conoid; tail truncate with broadly rounded terminus, caudal pore one on each side....................... indicum - Cardia cylindrical; tail slightly clavate, caudal pores two on each side.................................... deconincki 7 Amphids labial, fovea duplex...................................................................... sturhani - Amphids post-labial, fovea simple........................................................................ 8 8 Amphidial fovea occupying almost entire lip region width at that level; males absent................................ 9 - Amphidial fovea smaller, not occupying the entire lip region width; males present................................. 10 9 Body length 1.0 mm; constriction between two parts of pharynx very deep; prerectum 5–6 anal body widths long; tail clavate............................................................................................. amalgans - Body length 2.3 mm; both part of pharynx separated by isthmus-like portion; prerectum 2 anal body width long; tail broadly conoid........................................................................................ baldum 10 Lip region more or less truncate; female tail more or less clavate with very short conoid protoplasmic core; spicules slender; 34–38 µm long............................................................................... .. coomansi - Lip region hemispheroid; female tail hemispherical; spicules broad, more than 40 µm long.......................... 11 11 Anterior pharynx slender with a valved spindle-shaped region; tail tip cuticle less than half the tail length............ nairi - Anterior pharynx quite muscular without valved spindle-shaped region; tail tip cuticle more than half the tail length...................................................................................................... rotundumPublished as part of Naz, Tabbasam & Ahmad, Wasim, 2012, Description of two new and five known species of the genus Axonchium Cobb, 1920 (Nematoda: Dorylamida) from India with diagnostic compendia and keys to species of the genera Axonchium and Syncheilaxonchium Coomans & Nair, 1975, pp. 1-37 in Zootaxa 3264 on page 36, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21507

Axonchium meghalayense Naz & Ahmad, 2012, n. sp.

<i>Axonchium meghalayense</i> n. sp. <p>(Figs. 11–12)</p> <p> <b>Measurements.</b> Table 6.</p> <p> <b>Description. Female</b>: Body curved ventrad upon fixation, tapering towards both extremities. Cuticle with fine transverse striations, 3 µm thick at mid body and 6 µm on tail. Lateral chords with distinct glandular bodies, about one-eighth as wide as body width at midbody. Lateral, dorsal and ventral body pores indistinct.</p> <p>Lip region offset, about one-fifth of body width at neck base. Amphids cup-shaped, their aperture 0.7 times as wide as lip region width. Odontostyle fusiform, about one lip region width long, its aperture about one-third of its length. Guiding ring single, at 0.7–1.0 times lip region width from anterior end. Odontophore linear, 1.3 times the odontostyle length. Nerve ring at 20–22% of neck length from anterior end. A short isthmus separates the anterior part of pharynx from posterior expanded part, the latter occupying 63–66% of total neck length and enclosed in muscle sheath with straight bundles. Cardia conoid, about one-third of corresponding body width long.</p> <p> Genital system mono-opisthodelphic. Anterior branch represented by a simple uterine sac, 1.8–3.2 times the corresponding body width in length and filled with sperms. Posterior branch well developed; ovary reflexed, not reaching or surpassing the oviduct-uterus junction, measuring 130–155 µm with oocytes arranged in a single row except near tip. Oviduct joining ovary subterminally, measuring 80–135 µm, consisting of a long slender part with prismatic cells and a slightly wider <i>pars dilatata</i> with wide lumen. Sphincter present at oviduct-uterus junction. Uterus 80–160 µm long, tripartite, with distal expanded <i>pars dilatata</i>, a narrow tube-like intermediate region and a proximal wide tube with wide lumen. Vulva transverse. <i>Vagina</i> slightly bent posteriad, extending inwards about half of the corresponding body width; <i>pars proximalis vaginae</i> 18–19 µm long with outer convex walls; <i>pars refringens vaginae</i> absent; <i>pars distalis vaginae</i> well developed, 10–12 µm long with curved walls. Prerectum 4.5–7 times anal body width long. Rectum about one anal body width long. Tail bluntly conoid to rounded, 0.8–1.06 times anal body width long. Caudal pores two on each side.</p> <p> Characters Holotype female Paratype females Paratype male <b>Male</b>: Similar to female in general morphology, except for posterior region being more curved ventrad because of the presence of copulatory muscles. Spicules arcuate, slightly ventrally curved, 1.2 times the cloacal body width long. Lateral guiding pieces about one-third of the spicule length with bifurcated ends. Supplements an adcloacal pair and five regularly spaced ventromedians, beginning anterior to the range of spicules. Prerectum about six times cloacal body width long. Rectum about one cloacal body width. Tail similar to female, about as long as cloacal body width. Caudal pores two on each side.</p> <p> <b>Type habitat and locality:</b> Soil around unidentified grasses and herbs from seven miles, upper Shillong, Meghalaya, India. GPS coordinate 25.51965/91.93535; latitude 25o34'N, longitude 91o53'E</p> <p> <b>Type specimens:</b> Holotype female on slide <i>Axonchium meghalayense</i> <b>n. sp.</b> /1; paratype females and males on slides <i>Axonchium meghalayense</i> <b>n. sp.</b> / 2–7; deposited with the nematode collection of the Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, India. A paratype female and a male deposited with the nematode collection of the Universidad de Jaén, Spain.</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> The new species is named after the state where it was collected.</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis and relationships.</b> <i>Axonchium meghalayense</i> <b>n. sp.</b> is characterized by its 1.6–1.9 mm long body, lip region offset by constriction; 9.5–10 µm long odontostyle, the short isthmus-like structure present between the two parts of the pharynx, vagina slightly bent posteriad; the long, sac-like anterior uterine branch, and rounded tail in females, and, 41 µm long spicules, lateral guiding pieces with bifurcated distal ends and five ventromedian supplements starting above the range of the spicules in males.</p> <p> In the presence of a long anterior uterine sac, the shape of its vagina and number and arrangement of ventromedian supplements, the new species comes close to <i>A. heynsi</i> Nair, 1973, but differs in having a smaller and more robust body (L = 1.6–1.9 <i>vs</i> 2.1–2.8 mm, <i>a</i> = 31–38 <i>vs</i> 40–67), shorter prerectum (4.5–7 <i>vs</i> 10–15 times anal body width), longer tail (<i>c</i> = 48–60 <i>vs</i> 73–108) and in having differently shaped spicules (distal end of spicule less thick <i>vs</i> much more robust spicules).</p> <p> In vaginal characters and tail shape, the new species also resembles <i>A. saccatum</i> Jairajpuri, 1964 but differs in having a slightly narrower lip region (9–9.5 <i>vs</i> 10–11 µm), shorter prterectum (4.5–7 <i>vs</i> 11 times anal body width), longer tail (c= 48.6–59.7 <i>vs</i> 64–95), in having comparatively slender spicules (<i>vs</i> more robust spicules), and in the number and arrangement of ventromedian supplements (5 beginning anterior to <i>vs</i> 6–8 starting within the range of the spicules).</p> <p> The new species is also related to <i>A. phukani</i> Rahman, Jairajpuri & Ahmad, 1985 in having a long anterior uterine sac and in the shape of the vagina and tail, but differs in having a differently shaped cardia (hemispheroid <i>vs</i> conoid), in the position of ventromedian supplements (<i>vs</i> starting within the range of spicules), and in the shape of the spicules and lateral guiding pieces (<i>vs</i> more robust spicules and lateral guiding pieces without bifurcated ends).</p>Published as part of <i>Naz, Tabbasam & Ahmad, Wasim, 2012, Description of two new and five known species of the genus Axonchium Cobb, 1920 (Nematoda: Dorylamida) from India with diagnostic compendia and keys to species of the genera Axonchium and Syncheilaxonchium Coomans & Nair, 1975, pp. 1-37 in Zootaxa 3264</i> on pages 23-27, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/215075">10.5281/zenodo.215075</a&gt

Axonchium neoeletum Rahman, Jairajpuri & Ahmad 1985

Axonchium neoeletum Rahman, Jairajpuri & Ahmad, 1985 (Fig. 5–6) Measurements. Table 3. Characters Female Males Paratype female Paratype male Description. Female: Cuticle 2 µm thick at mid body and 6 µm thick on tail. Lateral chords about one-fourth of body width at mid body. Lip region offset by constriction, about one-fifth as wide as body width at neck base; lips separate. Amphids cup-shaped, their aperture slightly less than one lip region width. Odontostyle about one lip region width long. Odontophore 1.5 times the odontostyle length. Anterior part of pharynx muscular, separated from the posterior expanded part by a deep constriction or abutting it, the latter occupying 64 % of total neck length. Cardia conoid, about one-half of the corresponding body width long. Anterior genital branch represented by uterine sac, measuring 87 µm long and filled with sperms. Posterior branch well developed; ovary reflexed, not reaching the oviduct-uterus junction, measuring 80 µm; oviduct measuring 90 µm, consisting of a long slender part with prismatic cells and a slightly wider pars dilatata with wide lumen; well developed sphincter present at oviduct-uterus junction. Uterus measuring 80 µm, tripartite, having distal and proximal dilated parts with wide lumen and an intermediate narrower tube-like part with narrow lumen. Vagina slightly bent posteriad extending inwards slightly more than half of the corresponding body width; pars distalis vaginae well developed, about as long as pars proximalis vaginae; pars refringens vaginae absent. Prerectum about seven times anal body width long. Rectum about one anal body width long. Tail broadly rounded, 0.8 times anal body width long. Caudal pores two on each side. Male: Spicules dorylaimoid, ventrally curved with blunt distal end, 1.7–1.8 times the cloacal body width in length. Lateral guiding pieces sclerotized, slightly curved with bifurcated distal ends, about one-third of the spicule length. Supplements an adcloacal pair and six to seven irregularly spaced ventromedians, starting within the range of spicules. Prerectum about 6–7 times and rectum 1.1–1.2 times cloacal body width in length, respectively. Tail broadly rounded, 0.7–0.9 times cloacal body width long. Two caudal pores on each side. Habitat and locality. Soil around the roots of forest trees (unidentified) from Lathan, district Lohit, Arunachal Pradesh, India. GPS coordinate 27.90645 / 96.17432; latitude 27 o 54 ’E, longitude 96 o 10 ’ N. Remarks. Rahman et al. (1985) described this species from Meghalaya, India. The present population conforms well to the type population except for having a slightly shorter anterior uterine sac (G 1 = 6.1 % vs 7–9 %). A paratype female and a male of this species available in the collection of the Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University were also examined and were found to fit well with the present population except for having slightly more posterior vulval position (V = 52.8 vs 49.9) and slightly shorter anterior uterine branch (G 1 = 6.1 % vs 7.7 %). This species closely resembles A. elegans Jairajpuri, 1964 and A. eletum Dhanachand & Jairajpuri, 1981. From A. elegans, it differs in the size and shape of spicules (vs spicules 1.5 times cloacal body width long with unusually wide distal end), and in the shape of the lateral guiding pieces and greater number of ventromedian supplements (vs lateral guiding pieces rod-like with bifid distal ends and four ventromedian supplements). From A. eletum, this species differs in the shape of vagina and in having a proximal constriction in the anterior uterine sac; in the shape of lateral guiding pieces (vs lateral guiding pieces almost straight without sclerotization); irregularly arranged and fewer ventromedians (vs nine ventromedians in two groups of three and six). This is the first report of this species after its original description.Published as part of Naz, Tabbasam & Ahmad, Wasim, 2012, Description of two new and five known species of the genus Axonchium Cobb, 1920 (Nematoda: Dorylamida) from India with diagnostic compendia and keys to species of the genera Axonchium and Syncheilaxonchium Coomans & Nair, 1975, pp. 1-37 in Zootaxa 3264 on pages 12-16, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21507