Meloidogyne enterolobii Yang & Eisenback, 1983

Rashidifard, Milad, Fourie, Hendrika, Daneel, Mieke Stefanie & Marais, Mariette, 2019, Morphological and morphometrical identification of Meloidogyne populations from various crop production areas in South Africa with emphasis on M. enterolobii, Zootaxa 4658 (2), pp. 251-274 : 255-259

Meloidogyne enterolobii Yang & Eisenback, 1983

= Meloidogyne mayaguensis Rammah & Hirschmann, 1988

Figures 3 to 6.

Measurements: Tables 3 to 6b

TABLE 3. Morphometrical (in µm) data (means, standard deviations and ranges) of anterior end of Meloidogyne spp females.

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Female (n=341 perineal-patterns; n=10 intact females). Body pear-shaped and cuticle finely annulated. Head not distinctly off set from body. Stylet 16–24 µm long, conus slightly curved dorsally, stylet knobs offset, longitudinally divided from each other by groove ( Fig. 4 ). Dorsal gland opening 4–7 µm posterior to stylet knobs. Excretory pore position variable, near median bulb in most specimens. Median bulb well developed, 60–82 µm from anterior end with rounded median bulb valve. Neck 130–210 µm long. Perineal-pattern round to oval with medium to high dorsal arches (40 % of specimens) in shape with fine striae, phasmids pronounced and 2–3 µm in diameter, fine striae surrounding the tail terminus area ( Fig. 3 ). Interphasmidial distance 15–36 µm, fine striae present on lateral sides of vulva. Vulval slit 23–30 µm long and vulva-anus distance 12–45 µm long.

Male (n= 19). Body vermiform, 1010–1837 µm long, tapered anteriorly, rounded posteriorly. Head set off with high and round cap, labial framework moderately developed. Stylet 20–26 µm long, conus straight, basal knobs sloping backward ( Fig. 5 ). Dorsal gland opening 3–6 µm posterior to stylet knobs. Median bulb oval to elongated, followed by narrow isthmus. Excretory pore situated 113–185 µm from anterior end. Lateral fields areolated with four lateral lines. Phasmids small, opposite to cloaca. Tail 12–17 µm long. Spicule arcuate, 26–33 µm long. Gubernaculum simple, 9–13 µm long.

Second-stage juvenile (n= 173). Body shape vermiform, 352–462 µm long, narrow and tapered anteriorly and posteriorly. Head truncated and not off set ( Fig. 6 ). Stylet 11–15 µm long, cone straight. Stylet knobs large and sloping backward. Dorsal gland opening 2–4 µm posterior to stylet knobs. Median bulb 42–58 µm from anterior end, oval with thickened lumen lining. Excretory pore 62–96 µm from anterior end. Tail 39–68 µm long, tapering, with defined hyaline tail terminus.

Remarks. Although morphological and morphometrical characteristics of this species compared well with the original description of the species by Yang & Eisenback (1983) and subsequent reports from Florida ( Brito et al. 2004), and Karssen et al. (2012) as well as original description of the Puerto Rico population ( M. mayaguensis ) by Rammah & Hirschmann (1988), some differences were observed. The South African populations differ from the type description in a longer stylet in females (16–24 µm vs 13–18 µm) and slightly shorter interphasmidial distance (15–36 µm vs 22–42 µm). It also differs from the female stylet length in the Florida and Puerto Rico populations (13–15 µm and 14–17 µm, respectively). The South African populations also differ from the Puerto Rico population in a longer vulva-anus distance (12–45 µm vs 13–21 µm). Male specimens of the South African populations differed from the Florida populations in: longer body length (1010–1837 µm vs 856–1501 µm), stylet length (20–26 µm vs 17–22 µm) and spicule length (26–33 µm vs 23–29 µm. The South African J 2 specimens differed in body length from the type population, the Puerto Rico and Florida populations (352–462 µm vs 405–473 µm; 390–528 µm and 377–491 µm), respectively. However, the stylet length for South African populations (11–15 µm) was longer than that reported (11–12 µm) by Rammah & Hirschmann (1988) for the Puerto Rico population. South African M. enterolobii specimens also had longer tails compared to the Karssen et al. (2012) populations (37–68 µm vs 45–57 µm).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Variation in the perineal-pattern morphology within and among different mature females of Meloidogyne spp. populations sampled in agri- and horticultural production areas during 2015 and 2016. A–D: Meloidogyne enterolobii; E–H: Meloidogyne javanica; I–L: Meloidogyne incognita; M: Meloidogyne hapla.

FIGURE 4. Light microscopic photos of anterior part of Meloidogyne spp. females obtained from roots of agri- and horticultural crops in South African production areas during 2015 and 2016. A, B: M. enterolobii; C, D: M. incognita; E, F: M. javanica.

FIGURE 5. Light microscopic photos of anterior part of Meloidogyne spp. males obtained from roots of agri- and horticultural crops in South African production areas during 2015 and 2016. A–C: M. enterolobii; D–F: M. incognita; G–I: M. javanica.

FIGURE 6. Light microscopic photos of second stage juveniles (J2) of Meloidogyne enterolobii from South Africa obtained from roots of agri- and horticultural crops in South African production areas during 2015 and 2016. A, B: anterior part of body; C, D: variation of tail shape.

Tables

TABLE 3. Morphometrical (in µm) data (means, standard deviations and ranges) of anterior end of Meloidogyne spp.

Characteristics	M. enterolobii	M. incognita	M. javanica
	(n = 10)	(n = 5)	(n = 10)
Stylet length	20 1 ± 2.7 2	21 ± 0.4	19 ± 1.3
	(16–24) 3	(20–21)	(17–21)
Stylet knobs height	2 ± 0.4	2 ± 0.3	2 ± 0.3
	(1–3)	(1–2)	(2–3)
Stylet knobs width	3 ± 0.5	3 ± 0.4	3 ± 0.2
	(3–4)	(3–4)	(3–4)
Opening of dorsal gland posterior to stylet knobs	4 ± 1	4 ± 0.4	4 ± 0.4
	(4–7)	(3–5)	(3–4)
Anterior end to beginning of median bulb	71 ± 7.6	74 ± 4.7	74 ± 7.7
	(60–82)	(67–80)	(66–87)
Median bulb length	40 ± 4.	39 ± 6.1	42 ± 6.1
	(36–48)	(30–48)	(28–48)
Median bulb diameter	39 ± 1.8	37 ± 2.6	38 ± 2.6
	(37–43)	(34–41)	(32–40)
Neck length	169 ± 25.5	167 ± 19.9	155 ± 21.9
	(130–210)	(141–190)	(135–196)

1 Mean; 2 Standard Deviation, 3 Range (min–max)