DESCRIPTION OF TYLENCHORHYNCHUS IRANENSIS SP. N. (NEMATODA TELOTYLENCHIDAE) FROM IRAN

A new species of stunt nematodes, Tylenchorhynchus iranensis sp. n. is described from the rhizosphere of faba bean (Vicia faba L.), from material collected in the Khuzestan province, southwestern Iran. The new species is characterized by the following combination of features: lateral fields with four non areolated incisures, cephalic region continuous to slightly offset and conformed by 6-7 fine annuli, stylet 15-18 µm long, post-anal intestinal sac extends into the entire tail cavity, epiptygma present, tail sub-cylindrical with a hemispherical to sub-hemispherical smooth terminus, 46-65 μm long and composed by 46-49 annuli. Molecular analysis based on 28S rRNA gene sequences placed T. iranensis sp. n. within a clade that contained representatives of the genus Tylenchorhynchus with high support

Constitutive and Inducible Expression of Genes Related to Salicylic Acid and Ethylene Pathways in a Moderately Resistant Tomato Cultivar Leads to Delayed Development of Meloidogyne javanica

Knowledge of the molecular changes in resistant and susceptible cultivars during nematode attack is essential for developing plant resistance. Increased expression of genes related to the synthesis and signaling of salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and ethylene is known to induce expression of genes related to defense against plant parasitic nematodes. Here, we inoculated approximately 3000 s-stage juveniles (J2s) of Meloidogyne javanica to moderately resistant and highly susceptible tomato cultivars (ALYSTE F-1 and Dutch Mobil, respectively) to compare the developmental disease stages. The roots of each cultivar were collected daily until 30 days after inoculation (DAI). The roots were stained with acid-fuchsin and dissected under a microscope. The results showed that a few parasitic J2s were converted to J3s in the moderately resistant cultivar at 14 DAI, at which time, the highly susceptible cultivar had the highest number of J3s. Comparison of hormonal pathways in the two cultivars revealed that the expression of genes related to the ethylene pathway in ALYSTE F-1 was more strongly upregulated than in Dutch Mobil at 14 DAI. Moreover, the jasmonic acid pathway in the roots of both cultivars decreased at 14 DAI. The expression of genes related to salicylic acid synthesis and signaling was not significantly different between the two cultivars with regard to their non-inoculated controls, respectively, but ALYSTE F-1 in general showed constitutively higher levels of these genes compared to Dutch Mobil at 14 DAI. These results suggest that constitutive and induced expression of genes related to the salicylic acid pathway and ethylene pathway, respectively, delay the development of M. javanica J2s in ALYSTE F-1

MORPHOLOGICAL, MORPHOMETRIC AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF MERLINIUS MICRODORUS (GERAERT, 1966) SIDDIQI, 1970, SCUTYLENCHUS RUGOSUS (SIDDIQI, 1963) SIDDIQI, 1979 (MERLINIIDAE), AND PSILENCHUS CURCUMERUS RAHAMAN, AHMAD AND JAIRAJPURI, 1994 (PSILENCHIDAE) AND APPROACHES TO PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS

Merlinius microdorus and Scutylenchus rugosus (Merliniidae), and Psilenchus curcumerus (Psilenchidae) were collected from the rhizosphere of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) fields in Khuzestan province, south-western Iran. Morphological and morphometric data are provided for these species. Additionally, sequences of the D2-D3 expansion segments of 28S rRNA gene for all species were also used for molecular phylogenetic analysis. The phylogenetic relationships of Psilenchidae and Merliniidae in relation to representatives of the superfamily Tylenchoidea, obtained from Bayesian inference (BI) and maximum likelihood (ML) analyses of the D2-D3 sequences, are presented and discussed. The results of phylogenetic analysis strongly supported (BPP = 100) Merliniidae and Psilenchidae as monophyletic. The family Tylenchidae formed a sister clade to Merliniidae/Psilenchidae with high branch support (BPP = 100). Monophyly of representatives of Merliniidae (including Pratylenchoides) was supported with maximum BPP

DESCRIPTION OF TYLENCHORHYNCHUS IRANENSIS SP. N. (NEMATODA TELOTYLENCHIDAE) FROM IRAN

A new species of stunt nematodes, Tylenchorhynchus iranensis sp. n. is described from the rhizosphere of faba bean (Vicia faba L.), from material collected in the Khuzestan province, southwestern Iran. The new species is characterized by the following combination of features: lateral fields with four non areolated incisures, cephalic region continuous to slightly offset and conformed by 6-7 fine annuli, stylet 15-18 µm long, post-anal intestinal sac extends into the entire tail cavity, epiptygma present, tail sub-cylindrical with a hemispherical to sub-hemispherical smooth terminus, 46-65 μm long and composed by 46-49 annuli. Molecular analysis based on 28S rRNA gene sequences placed T. iranensis sp. n. within a clade that contained representatives of the genus Tylenchorhynchus with high support

Species of Superfamily Aphelenchoidea (Nematoda: Rhabditida) Associated with (Crocus sativus, Berberis vulgaris, Ziziphus zizyphus) from South Khorasan Province

Introduction: South Khorasan province is the main area for production of Berberis vulgaris (family), Crocus sativus (family) and Ziziphus zizyphus (family). Nematodes belong to superfamily Aphelenchoidea are easy to be identified by the size of the body, stylet without knobs, large median bulb, long overlapping on the intestine and placement of the vulva in the posterior part of body. In this survey, we identified nematodes belong the superfamily Aphelenchoidea in these three important plant. Four species of genus Aphelenchoides and one species of each genus Aphelenchus, Aprutides and Ektaphelenchoides were identified. Among them, two species Aphelenchoides lichenicola and A. varicaudatus are new records for Iranian nematofauna. Materials and Methods: Soil sampling: 360 soil samples were collected from the rhizosphere of three important yields (B. vulgaris, C. sativus and Z. zizyphus) in south Khorasan province. Samples were taken from the depth of 5-40 cm different points with a soil auger, put in polyethylene bags with necessary labeling and brought to the laboratory, kept in the refrigerator at 4 °C, until processed. Processing of samples and Preparation of slides: Nematodes were extracted from soil samples using the Jenkins (1964) and Whitehead (1965) method. They were then handpicked, killed and fixed according to De Grisse (1969) method. Genera and species were identified based on morphological and morphometerical characters by valid keys and references. Measurements and drawings: Measurements were done with an ocular micrometer of “Olympus” model microscope Results and Discussion: This survey resulted in 10 species belong to superfamily Aphelenchoidea which two species of them are new for Iranian nematode fauna. Aphelenchoides lichenicola and A. varicaudatus are new records from South Khorasan province. lichenicola characterized by: Body straight to slightly arcuate ventrally. Lip region rounded, offset by constriction. Transverse striae of cuticle faint, about 0.8 µm apart near mid-body. Lateral fields with four incisures, inner ones faint. Stylet about 9.5-10.5 µm, conus 42-44% of stylet length. Median oesophageal bulb oval to somewhat rectangular with rounded corners, offset from procorpus. Oesophageal glands dorsal to intestine, extending to 46-58µm. Nerve ring just behind isthmus. Excretory pore opposite or close to posterior margins of nerve ring. Vulva a transverse slit, raised. Vagina usually directed anteriorly. Ovary outstretched, with a single row of oocytes. Post-vulval uterine sac half or more of vulva-anus distance. Vulval-anus distance 127-211 µm. Rectum about 1.5 times anal body-width long. Tail elongate-conoid with terminus bearing a ventral somewhat stellate projection whose axial ray is more prominent than the others. Varicaudatus characterized by: The elongate body is slightly curved ventrally when killed by heat. Lip region distinctly offset with rounded sides and flattened anteriorly. Cuticular annulations are fine. Lateral fields with four incisures. Stylet 12.5-14 µm long with small basal thickenings. Median oesophageal bulb roundly rectangular just slightly longer than wide. Excretory pore placed in 63-75.5µm from the anterior end. Nerve ring behind the Excretory pore. Vagina slopes forward into the body. Reproductive tract with a single anterior ovary which is often reflexed, sometimes almost back to the beginning of the ovary. Post vulval sac prominent, extending one third to half the vulva to anus distance. Tail terminus variable, sometimes bifid, often with the dorsal process decreased to give an angular indented region adjacent to the longer ventral mucro, occasionally the tail terminus tapers gradually to a terminal mucro

Penetration and Development of Meloidogyne javanica on Four Pistachio Rootstocks and Their Defense Responses

Pistachio yield is annually reduced due to root-knot nematode infections. In order to evaluate its resistance to Meloidogyne javanica, three domestic pistachio rootstocks, namely, Badami, Ghazvini and Sarakhs, and a wild pistachio, Baneh (Pistacia atlantica subsp. mutica), were selected. Their response to the nematode infection was evaluated based on different plant and nematode indexes, 120 days post-inoculation (dpi). The penetration and development rate of nematode in roots of these four pistachio rootstocks were evaluated at different time points by acid fuchsin staining. Based on the measured indexes, Badami, Ghazvini, Sarakhs, and Baneh rootstocks ranked as susceptible, moderately resistant, moderately resistant, and resistant, respectively. The penetration rate of second-stage nematode juveniles (J2) into four rootstocks was discussed. The first “midstage” or swollen juveniles appeared at 4 dpi but to a lesser extent in Ghazvini, Sarakhs, and Baneh cultivars. The first females were seen in Badami at 21 dpi, in Ghazvini and Sarakhs at 35 dpi, and in Baneh at 45 dpi. Three types of defense responses were distinguished and characterized in the examined pistachio rootstocks: (i) a hypersensitive response (HR)-like reaction in the cortex in Ghazvini, Sarakhs, and Baneh root tips at 4 dpi and 6 dpi; (ii) an HR response, degrading J2 which induce giant cells in the vascular cylinder of all rootstocks, at 6 dpi and 10 dpi; and (iii) an HR response, degrading females and giant cells in the vascular cylinder of all rootstocks at 15 dpi onward. These observations open new fields of study in breeding programs of this crop

Description of Basiria birjandiensis n. sp (Nematoda : Tylenchidae) from South Khorasan province with a checklist of the family Tylenchidae Örley 1880 from Iran

In order to identify plant-parasitic nematodes (family Tylenchidae Örley 1880) associated with Ziziphus zizyphus in Iran, 360 soil and root samples were collected from South Khorasan province during 2012-2014. Herein, a new species of Basiria and several known members of the family Tylenchidae are reported. B. birjandiensis n. sp. is characterized by short body length (584-748 μm [660.6±72.3]), lip region with flat apex, stylet 11-12 μm (11.3±0.5), excretory pore position varying from isthmus level to the middle of the basal bulb (78-91 μm from the anterior end of the body), post-vulval uterine sac 8-14 μm (10.7±1.9) long, filiform tail (151-181 μm, c= 3.7-4.2, c= 14.3-17.2) and body annuli 0.5-1 μm (0.6±0.1) wide. A checklist of Tylenchidae species from Iran is also presented

FIGURE 1. Basiria birjandiensis n in Description of Basiria birjandiensis n. sp (Nematoda: Tylenchidae) from South Khorasan province with a checklist of the family Tylenchidae Örley 1880 from Iran

FIGURE 1. Basiria birjandiensis n. sp: Anterior end of the body (A), Lip region with amphid (B, C), Excretory pore position (D, E), Body shape of the female (F) and male (H), lateral lines (G), tail end of the female (J) and male (I) and ovary (K)

How may trichoderma application affect vegetative and qualitative traits in tulip “darwin hybride” cultivar

To study the effect of Trichoderma harzianum Bi on qualitative and quantitative traits of tulip including stem length and diameter, bud diameter, petal length, bulb perimeter and bulblet number, an experiment based on completely randomized design with 8 replications were completed in situ. Main media mixture was 40% of coco peat+ 40 of field soil+ 20% of perlite. Treatments included enriched coco peat with trichoderma in different concentrations (0, 20, 50 and 100%) of total coco peat. Results showed that 100 and 50% of enriched coco peat significantly increased stem length and diameter. These treatments also had an effect on bud diameter significantly. Petal length was also affected by 100% of enriched coco peat treatment in comparison to control. All treatments (20, 50 and 100%) had a significant effect on bulblet appearance in both mature and immature bulbs. Mature bulb perimeter was significantly affected by all treatments although immature bulb perimeter was only affected by 50 and 100% treatments. Flower bud formation in immature bulbs which was treated with 50 and 100% of enriched coco peat increased significantly in comparison to control. Totally it seems that trichoderma increases tulip cut flower quality traits and induces maturity in immature bulbs