Trichodoridae (Nematoda : Triplonchida) from the Tara National Park, Serbia, and proposal of Trichodorus pseudobursatus n. sp.

Abstract

A survey for plant-root parasites in Tara National Park, Serbia, revealed the widespread occurrence of Trichodoridae, present in nearly one-third of the samples. Several species appeared to belong to the Trichodorus aequalis species complex sensu Loof (1973). The taxonomic value of the observed variations in diagnostic features within this species complex is discussed. A new species Trichodorus pseudobursatus n. sp. is described. It is characterised by males with a nearly straight habitus, two ventromedian cervical papillae anterior to the secretory-excretory pore, medium-sized and mostly straight spicules with wider manubrium continuous with the blade; blade with a smooth narrower part with a few bristles at mid-spicule, followed by a wider striated posterior part devoid of bristles. Females are characterised by a large, well developed pear-shaped vagina with medium-sized, rounded triangular and well separated vaginal sclerotised pieces in lateral optical view. In addition to the diagnostic morphological features, differentiation of the new species from other Serbian morphotypes of the Trichodorus sparsus species complex was supported by canonical discriminant analyses (CDA). Additional information is provided for T. sparsus and three T. aff. sparsus morphotypes from Serbia. The discovery of the genus Trichodorus in Serbia represents a new geographical record.