Rev 09/13/2023
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As of 2017, there were more than 168 described species (Xu et al., 2017).
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Needle nematodes, like dagger nematodes, are very large, ranging in length from 2 to 8 mm.
In needle nematodes, odontostyle is long, the total length of odontostyle and odontophore is about 150 �m.
The odontostyle is connected to the lining of cheilostome by a cuticular membrane that becomes variously folded, with refractory qualities - the "guiding ring." In Longidorus, the guiding ring is located within two lip-widths of the anterior portion of the nematode in some species and at mid-odontostyle in others.
Opening of amphid is pore-like in Longidorus and slit-like in Paralongidorus.
Females of Longidorus have two ovaries that are opposed and reflexed.
The distance of the guiding ring from anterior end has been used as an important morphological character for species identification within Longidorus (Xu et al., 2017).
Worldwide, usually moist environments. Although widely distributed they are sometimes rather difficult to find!
D-rated pest in California Nematode Pest Rating System, except for L. africanus which is C-rated
Generally considered root tip feeders.
The first juvenile stage emerges from the egg and passes through three more juvenile stages.
Males are rare in most species and presumably unnecessary for reproduction in those cases (Raski, 1988), although amphimictic populations do occur (Ye and Robbins, 2004).
Severe stunting of loblolly pine seedlings at a south Georgia nursery. Nematode populations increased in containers with slash, loblolly, and longleaf pine seedlings. The Longidorus sp. significantly reduced the dry root weights of slash (P = 0.008) and loblolly (P = 0.047) but not longleaf (P = 0.095) pine compared with controls (Fraedrich et al., 2003).
Besides their direct damage to plant roots, about seven species transmit pathogenic nepoviruses to higher plants.
As and example, the Longidorus sp. damaging to loblolly pines decreased on nutsedge and small grains. Periodic rotation from pine production to grow cover crops consisting of small grains important management practice this species (Fraedrich et al., 2003).
Cid del Prado Vera, I., Subbotin, S.A., Decraemer, W. 2021. Descriptions of Trichodorus lownsberyi sp. n., Nanidorus minor (Colbran, 1956) Siddiqi, 1974 (Nematoda: Trichodoridae) and Longidorus quercus sp. n. (Nematoda: Longidoridae) from Mexico. Nematology, 23:1023-1037. doi: https://doi.org/10.1163/15685411-bja10092
Fraedrich SW, Cram MM, Handoo ZA 2003. Suitability of southern pines, other selected crops, and nutsedge to a Longidorus sp associated with stunting of loblolly pine seedlings. Plant Disease 87:1129-1132.
Subbotin, S.A., Rogozhin, E.A. & Chizhov, V.N. 2013. Molecular characterisation and diagnostics of some Longidorus species (Nematoda: Longidoridae) from Russia and other countries using rRNA genes. European Journal of Plant Pathology 138, 377-390. DOI: 10.1007/s10658-013-0338-9
Ye WM, Robbins RT. 2004. Longidorus biformis n. sp and L. glycines n. sp (Nematoda : Longidoridae): Two amphimictic species from Arkansas. Journal of Nematology 36:1-13.
Xu, Y., K. Guo, W. Ye, J. Wang, J. Zheng and Z. Zhao. 2017. Morphological and molecular characterisation of Longidorus juglans sp. nov. and a sister species L. fangi Xu & Cheng, 1991 (Nematoda: Longidoridae) from China. Nematology 19:951-970.