Rev 09/12/2023
Dolichodorus Cobb, 1914
Type species of the genus: Dolichodorus heterocephalus Cobb, 1914
Synonyms: None.
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No secondary sexual dimorphism, sexually reproducing.
Cuticle distinctly annulated, lateral field with three incisures (Neodolichodorus is distinuished by having four incisures)..
Labial region distinctly off-set and annulated (rarely smooth). Labial sclerotization strong, with very thick basal plate and thick arches.
Stylet long (50 to 160 �m), strong, cone longer than shaft.
Esophagus with amalgamated pro-metacorpus, short isthmus and pyriform glandular region not overlapping the intestine.
Lateral field with three incisures, areolated.
Amphid apertures small slits laterally or dorso-ventrally directed.
No deirids.
Females: Tail rounded to hemispherical with spike-like extension, rarely elongate-conoid.
Females with two genital branches, columned uterus with four rows of cells; vagina very heavily sclerotized.
Diagnostic characteristics of species
Key to the species of Dolichodorus
From Geraert (2011), Jimenez Guirado et al. (2007) and Esquivel et al. (2017)
Subfamily Dolichodorinae
Lateral field with 3 incisures
Dolichodorus
Lateral field with 4 incisures
Neodolichodorus
Currently 19 species described for the genus, mainly from wet, sandy or well-aggregated soil locations with adequate pore space for the activity of these large nematodes (Golden, 1958; Chow and Taylor, 1978; Robbins, 1982; Doucet, 1985; Golden et al., 1986; Jimenez Guirado et al., 2007; Silva et al., 2008a, b; Jagdale et al., 2013; Gagarin and Nguyen, 2015; Esquivel et al., 2017)
In a two-year study of the vertical distribution of nematodes in a crop rotation system in Zimbabwe (Ferris, 1969), several hundred soil samples collected up to a depth of 20 cm were negative for presence of any Dolichodorus specimens. However, in a single soil sample collected in wet sandy soil almost at the level of the water table (about 200 cm) round the roots of a Julbernardia globiflora tree in a neighboring the rotation experiment, a few specimens of Dolichodorus were found (Ferris, unpublished).
D-rated pest in California Nematode Pest Rating System, except for Dolichodorus heterocephalus which is A-rated..
Nematodes of the Dolichodoridae are obligate migratory ectoparasites of plant roots. Root tips have been reported as feeding sites reulting in root-tip curvature and discrete galls and elargement of nuclei in cells at the feeding site (Paracer et al., 1967).
Apart from the studies on D. heterocephalus, there has been no work on the life history attributes of nematodes in the genus. Interestingly, monoxenic tissue culture techniques have been described which might facilitate such studies (Paracer et al., 1967).
Feeding of D. miradvulvus at roots of the aquatic plant Anubias nana, can result in complete destruction of the root system (Smart and Khuong, 1984, 1985; Smart and Nguyen, 1991).
The damage caused by D. heterocephalus on a range of plants, including celery, garden balsam and sweet corn, planted in the moist sandy soils are well documented (Christie, 1952; Tarjan et al., 1952; Perry, 1953; Paracer et al., 1967).
Andrassy, I. 1976. Evolution as a basis for the systematization of nematodes....
Andrassy, I. 2007. Free-living nematodes of Hungary II. Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest. 496p.
Chow, F.H., Taylor, A.L. 1978. Dolichodorus aestuarius n. sp. (Nematoda: Dolichodoridae). Journal of Nematology 10:201-204.
Christie, J. R. 1952. Some new nematodes of critical importance to Florida growers. Proceedings Soil Science Society of Florida 12:30-39.
Doucet, M.E. 1981. Description de Dolichodorus longicaudatus n. sp. et Neodolichodorus leiocephalus n. sp.(Nematoda: Tylenchida). Revue Nematologie.
Doucet, M.E. 1985. Description de Dolichodorus aquaticus n. sp. (Nematoda: Dolichodoridae). Nematologica 31:143-150.
Esquivel, A., Ferris, H., Cid del Prado, I., Subbotin, S.A. 2017. Dolichodorus costaricensis n. sp. (Tylenchida: Dolichodoridae): a new awl nematode species from the Central Pacific region of Costa Rica. Nematropica 47:143-154.
Gagarin, V.G. Nguyen, V.T. 2015. Dolichodorus orientalis sp. n. (Nematoda, Tylenchida) from mangroves of Vietnam. Zoologichesky Zhurnal 94:303-310.
Geraert, E. 2011. The Dolichodoridae of the World. Academia Press, Gent. 520p.
Germani, G. 1990. Descriptions of Dolichodorus pellegrini sp. n. Nematoda, Dolichodoridae) and Xiphinema fagesi sp. n. (Nematoda, Dorylaimidae) from New Caledonia. Nematologica 36:73-80.
Gillespie, W.H., RE Adams 1962. - An awl nematode Dolichodorus silvestris n. sp. from West Virginia. Nematologica 8:93-98.
Golden, A.M. 1958. Dolichodorus similis (Dolichodorinae), a new species of plant nematode. Proceedings of the Helminthological Society of Washington.
Golden, A.M., ZA Handoo, EJ Wehunt . 1986. Description of Dolichodorus cobbi n. sp.(Nematoda: Dolichodoridae) with morphometrics and lectotype designation of D. heterocephalus Cobb, 1914. Journal of Nematology 18: 556-562.
Jairajpuri, M.S., Rahmani, S.A. 1977. Dolichodorus kishansinghi n. sp.(Nematoda: Dolichodoridae). Indian Journal of Nematology 7:183-185.
Jimenez Guirado, D., Murillo Navarro, J.M., Liebanas, G., Landa, B.B., Castillo, P. 2007. Morphological and molecular characterization of a new awl nematode, Dolichodorus mediterraneus sp. n. (Nematoda: Dolichodoridae) from Spain. Nematology 9:189-199.
Khan, E., Seshadri, A. R., Weischer, B., & Mathen, K. 1971. Five new nematode species associated with coconut in Kerala, India. Indian Journal of Nematology, 1: 116-127. (Dolichodorus pulvinus described)
Lewis, S.A. 1980. Morphology of a new species of Dolichodorus from Zoysia and observations on the identity of Dolichodorus heterocephalus. Journal of Nematology 12:229.
Lewis, S.A., Golden, A.M. 1981. Description and SEM observations of Dolichodorus marylandicus n. sp. with a key to species of Dolichodorus. Journal of Nematology 13: 128-135.
Loof, P.A.A. and Sharma, R.V. 1975. Dolichodorus minor n. sp. (Nematoda: Dolichodoridae) with a key to the genus Dolichodorus. Revista Theobroma, CEPEC, Itabuna, Brasil 5(4):35-41.
Lopez, R. 1994. Morfologia de Dolichodorus minor (Nemata: Dolichodoridae) asociada al cacao en el sureste de Costa Rica. Agronomia Costarricense 18:87-92.
Luc, M. 1960. Dolichodorus profundus n. sp. (Nematoda-Tylenchida). Nematologica 5:1-6.
Luc, M. Souchaud, B. 1989. Liste Des Types Dans La Collection Nationale De Nematodes Du Sol Et Parasites Des Plantes, Au Museum National D'Histoire Naturelle, Paris. Nematologica. (Dolichodorus aquaticus Doucet, 1986. Nematologica, 31: 143-150.
Luc & Dalmasso, 1971. Annls Zool. Ecol. anim., 3: 97-101.( Dolichodorus cassati) (cassati later transferred to Neodolichodorus)
Luc, M., Caveness, F.E. 1963. Dolichodorus nigeriensis n. sp. (Nematoda Dolichodoridae). Proceedings of the Helmithological Society of Washington 30:297-299.
Luc, M., Coomans, A., Sarr, E. 1987. Redescription of Neodolichodorus rostrulatus (Siddiqi, 1976) Siddiqi, 1977 (Nematoda: Tylenchina). Revue de Nematologie, 1987 .
Luc & Fortuner, 1987. Rev. Nematol. 10(2):177-181.
Paracer, S. M., M. Waseem, and B. M. Zuckerman. 1967. The biology and pathogenicity of the awl nematode, Dolichodorus heterocephalus.Nematologica 13:517-524.
Robbins, R.T. 1982. Description of Dolichodorus grandaspicatus n.sp. (Nematoda: Dolichodoridae). Journal of Nematology 14:507-511.
Perry, V. G. 1953. The awl nematode, Dolichodorus heterocephalus, a devastating plant parasite. Proceedings of the Helminthological Society of Washington 20:21-27.
Smart, G.C., Khoung, N.B. 1985. Dolichodorus miradvulvus n. sp. (Nematoda, Tylenchida) with a key to the species. Journal of Nematology 17:29-37.
Smart G. C., and K. B. Nguyen. 1991. Sting and awl nematodes. Pp. 627-668 in Nickle, W. R. (ed.). Manual of Agricultural Nematology. New York: Marcel Dekker Inc.,
Tarjan, A. C., B. F. Lownsbery, and W. D. Hawley.1952. Pathogenicity of some plant-parasitic nematodes from Florida soils. I. The effect of Dolichodorus heterocephalus Cobb on celery. Phytopathology 42:131-132.