Psilenchus

 

Contents

  

Rev 12/16/2024

  Classification Hosts
Morphology and Anatomy Life Cycle
Return to Psilenchus Menu Economic Importance Damage
Distribution Management
Return to Tylenchidae Menu Feeding  References
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Classification:

  • Chromadorea
           Rhabditida
           Tylenchina
    • Tylenchoidea 
    Tylenchidae 
    Boleodorinae 
    Psilenchus de Man, 1921 

    Synonyms: 

    None

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    Morphology and Anatomy:

    Relatively large members of the Tylenchidae that are didelphic and amphidelphic.

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    • Medium-sized nematodes, 0.7-1.7 mm long
    • Cuticle with fine striation; lateral field usually with 4 incisures
    • Head rounded or conoid
    • Amphid apertures broad slits
    • Stylet thin, relatively delicate; basla knobs usually absent or very small
    • DEGO close to base of stylet
    • Metacorpus prominent, usually oval; basla bulb small, pyriform
    • Tail elongate in both sexes, usually with a clavate tip

     

    Female:  

    • Didelphic amphidelphic, vulva near middle of body, without lateral membranes
    • Ovaries outstretched, spermatheca elondate

     

     

     

    Refer to subfamily diagnosis (Boleodorinae). 

    Males:  

    • Bursa prominent, adanal
    • Spicules prominent, gubernaculum present


    Body size range for the species of this genus in the database - Click:
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    Distribution:

    Commonly occurring in most soils. Feed on algae, mosses, lichens and plant roots. As an example: Soil nematodes were studied in three spruce forests in the Czech Republic from 1988 to 1991. A total of 74 species occurred, most belonged to the orders Tylenchida, Rhabditida and Dorylaimida.  The most abundant nematodes were the mycophytophagous species of the family Tylenchidae followed by bacteriophages, especially by those in the order Rhabditida.

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    Economic Importance:

    Probably fairly small. Most reports are about occurrence and abundance rather than documenting any effects on growth. 

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    Feeding:

    Ectoparasites of plant roots, root hairs, algae, etc.       

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    Hosts:
    For an extensive host range list for this genus, click
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    Life Cycle:

    For Ecophysiological Parameters for this genus, click 
     
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    Damage:

    Relatively slight, small stylets penetrating only thin cell walls.

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    Management:

     

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    References:

    Hanel, Ladislav. 1996. Comparison of soil nematode communities in three spruce forests Boubin Mount, Czech Republic. Biologia (Bratislava) 51. 

    Yeates, G.W., T. Bongers, R.G.M. de Goede, D.W.Freckman and S.S. Georgieva. 1993. Feeding habits in soil nematode families - an outline for ecologists. Journal of Nematology 25:315-331.

     

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    Copyright © 1999 by Howard Ferris.
    Revised: December 16, 2024.