PRATYLENCHUS JORDANENSIS A JUNIOR SYNONYM OF P. ZEAE

Abstract

Pratylenchus jordanensis paratypes from the Rothamsted Nematode Collection in England and three populations from Oman deposited at the USDA Nematode Collection, Beltsville, U.S.A. were used for morphological analyses by light (LM) and scanning electron microcopy (SEM). Morphometrics and tail shape of P. jordanensis paratypes and populations from Oman were determined and compared with those reported in the literature for P. zeae. Head patterns of P. jordanensis and P. zeae were examined by SEM using a 20 year-old P. jordanensis paratype removed from the original slide, specimens of an Oman population from grapevine, and a Florida population of P. zeae from St. Augustine grass. Head patterns of the P. jordanensis specimens showed a smooth face with oral disc and lip sectors fused together and three lip annuli like those of P. zeae. The margin of the third lip annulus was interrupted by a diagonal incisure in both the P. jordanensis paratype and P. zeae. The morphological similarities between P. jordanensis and P. zeae suggest that P. jordanensis is a junior synonym of P. zeae.