LONGIDORIDS (NEMATODA: DORYLAIMOIDEA) OCCURRING IN THE RHIZOSPHERE OF OLIVE TREES IN WESTERN CRETE, GREECE

Abstract

Of 50 soil samples collected from the rhizosphere of olive, grapevine, carob or walnut in the Province of Chania, Crete, 42 were positive for Longidoridae. Xiphinema italiae occurred only once in the rhizosphere of olive and X. index twice in the same locality in the rhizosphere of either grapevine or olive. X. pachtaicum was present in 41 of the positive samples, in the rhizosphere of all the four plant species considered. Three populations of Longidorus closelongatus occurred in the rhizosphere of olive. The four juvenile stages of this species are clearly separated on the basis of their odontostyle and replacement odontostyle length.