Pratylenchus crassi
Das, V.M. and Sultana, Sabiha, 1979
9?? (Paratypes): L = 0.41-0.45 mm; a =
20-26; b = 7.7-8.8; c = 18-24; V = 72-77; stylet =
17-18 um.
Holotype (female): L = 0.43 mm; a =
20.3; b = 8.8; c = 18.5; V = 72.7; stylet = 17.1 um.
Female: Cuticle finely annulated, the coarsest striae
near the head being only 1.1 um apart. Lateral field with
4 crenate incisures occupying less than 1/3 body width. Head region
low, flattened, about 3 times as wide as high bearing 2 annules.
It is strongly sclerotized. Stylet 17-18 um long and has anteriorly
directed cup-shaped knobs. The shaft of the spear measures 8.6 um.
Orifice of the dorsal oesophageal gland lies 2.1 um behind base
of spear. Oesophagus has a cylindrical procorpus, a small spheroid
metacarpus and oesophageal glands in the form of dorsal lobe, extending
over the intestine for about 2 body widths. Excretory pore 75.1 um
(67-78.1 um in paratypes) from anterior end, below the level of
nerve ring, excretory duct strongly cuticularized. A large hemizonid
lies immediately above the excretory pore, and measures 2 um in
length. Vulva is a transverse slit. Ovary single, prodelphic,
outstretched. There is a large oval Spermatheca, filled with sperms.
Crusta-formaria present. Post-uterine vulval sac is very small, less
than 1 body vulval diameter in length. Tail cylindrical with smooth
rounded terminus, about 2 anal body diameter in length, and with 12-15
annules. Phasmids are located in the middle of tail.
Male: Unknown.
Type habitat: Soil around roots of Coccinia indica
W & A.
Type locality: Humayunnagar, Hyderabad (A.P.), India.
Type specimen: Holotype slide is deposited in the
Zoology Museum, Osmania University, Hyderabad (A.P.), India.
Diagnosis: Among the existing species, the new species
comes close to P. loosi Loof, 1950 and P. coffeae (Zimmermann,
1898) Goodey, 1951, in having 2 labial annules and 4 lateral incisures.
It, however, differs from P. loosi in being small, stout, annulated
cuticle and anteriorly located vulva. It differs from P. coffeae
in being small and stout, length of oesophagus, position of vulva, shape
of tail, and absence of males. This new species differs from P.
capitatus sp. n., P. singhi sp. n., P. barkati sp. n.
and P. exilis sp. n. in the presence of 2 lip annules whereas all
the above mentioned species have 3 lip annules.