Body takes a ventral curvature, generally assumes an open ‘C’
shape. Body tapering at both the ends; annulation fine. Head
truncate measuring 9 x 4 u in dimension bearing 4 annules.
Labial frame-work comparatively less sclerotized extending to one body
annule. Spear 16 u (15-17 u in paratypes) with flattened knobs.
Dorsal oesophageal gland opening located 3 u posterior to spear
base. Oesophagus typical of the genus. Isthmus about one corresponding
body width in length; the ventral overlap measures about 3 times the corresponding
body width in length. One dorsal and two subventral glands are lodged
in the oesophageal overlap. Excretory pore located at about half
of the corresponding body width posterior to oesophago-intestinal junction.
Hemizonid five annules anterior to excretory pore. Nerve ring located
at about middle of the isthmus. Lateral field with 4 incisures.
Vulva transverse slit, vagina extending 1/3 of the vulval body width.
Ovary single outstretched with single row of oocytes. Spermatheca
absent. Post uterine sac about two vulval-body-widths long.
Tail more than two anal-body-width long, conoid with blunt terminus bearing
32 annules (25-35 annules in paratypes) tip smooth. Phasmid located
at about 1/3 of tail from tip.
Male: Not found.
Holotype: Female on Type Slide No. 529 deposited
with the National Nematode Collection, Division of Nematology, Indian Agricultural
Research Institute, New Dehli-12.
Paratypes: 13 females on Slide No. 530-546.
Other data same as for holotype.
Type habitat and locality: From soil around roots
of mustard at Gheora, Dehli.
Diagnosis and relationship: Pratylenchus ranjani
sp. n. comes close to P. goodeyi, Sher & Allen, 1953 and can
be distinguished from the later by more posteriorly located vulva, longer
and differentiated posterior uterine sac, shape of tail (tail tapering
and narrow in P. goodeyi) and by having an inconspicuous spermatheca
without sperms and by the absence of males.
Specimens collected from soil around the roots of wheat at Bikaner,
citrus at Ajmer, Pennisetum at Ambala and mustard at Chittorgarh have been
identified as P. ranjani.