Description of Meloidogyne piperi sp.n.(Nematoda: Meloidogynidae) isolated from the roots of piper nigrum in South India

Abstract

One new species of root knot nematode, namely Meloidogyne piperi sp. n., collected from the roots of piper nigrum growing in Kerala state of India, has been described and illustrated. The species is diagnosed by the characteristic perineal pattern of its females with broken wavy striae in both dorsal and ventral arch and spreading of ventral striae in lateral region of one side only, numerous striae in perineum region, absence of tail whorl, lateral incisures and posterior protuberance;head region with three annules behind lip cap, the first annule anteriorly directed, the second one low and regressed while the third annule wide and outwardly directed dorsal gland orifice located almost at 4.5 um from the spear knobs, excretory pore located almost opposite to the median bulb, transversely wide spear knobs in females and absence of males. Its second stage juveniles are characterized by having L=310-400µm;stylet=11-13 µm;dorsal oesophageal gland orifice=3-4 µm;tail=40-53 µm;h=5-16 µm;c=7.5-8.5 ;c=5-6, two head annules and distinct rectal dilation. M.piperi sp. n. has been differentiated from the closely related species M.megadora Whitehead, 1968 and M.incognita(Kofoid & White, 1919) Chitwood, 1949.