OCCURRENCE OF BURSAPHELENCHUS LEONI (NEMATODA, APHELENCHOIDIDAE) IN CYPRUS AND ITS EXTRACTION FROM PINE WOOD

Abstract

Bursaphelenchus leoni was found in wood of severely wilted pine trees (Pinus pinea and P. brutia) in Cyprus. This is the first record of any Bursaphelenchus species in Cyprus and of P. brutia as a host for B. leoni. The shaker, open petri-dish and Baermann funnel methods were compared for extraction of B. leoni from wood samples. The first two methods recovered similar numbers of nematodes during a 48 hrs extraction period and significantly more than Baermann funnel method. Morphological studies show that the Cyprus population of B. leoni corresponds very closely with the French one as described by Baujard (1980), essential morphological feautures and measurements being almost the same for the two populations.