Rev 02/23/2024
Tylenchida Tylenchina Criconematoidea Tylenchuloidea
Sphaeronematidae or Tylenchulidae Meloidoderitinae
Meloidoderita whittoni (Sledge & Christie, 1962) Troccoli, Subbotin, Stanley, Alford, Vovlas & Inserra, 2017
Synonyms:
Sphaeronema whittoni Sledge & Christie, 1962
Tuniota whittoni (Sledge & Christie, 1962) Siddiqi, 1986
Sphaeronema whittoni was transferred to the genus Meloidoderita based on morphological and molecular analysis. However, the species has some features that suggest that it is atypical of other species of Meloidoderita. Atypical features include retention of the eggs within the body, and hardening of the body into a protective cyst that is further protected by a gelatinous matrix which encases the body and hardens. Studies thus far indicate that eggs are not deposited outside the body. Second stage juveniles of M. whittoni are semi-endoparasitic rather than endoparasitic as in other species of the genus (Troccoli et al., 2017).
All stages:
Female:
Male:
[Ref: Raski & Luc, 1987; Troccoli et al., 2017)
Reported median body size for this species (Length mm; width micrometers; weight micrograms) - Click:
Originally described as Sphaeronema whittoni from the roots of a sweetgum tree (Liquidamber styraciflora) n north Florida, USA.
Feeds as a semi-endoparasite on the roots of Liquidamber.
Ecophysiological Parameters:
Life cycle features atypical of other species of Meloidoderita include retention of the eggs within the female body and hardening of the body into a protective cyst that is further protected by a gelatinous matrix which encases the body and hardens. Studies thus far indicate that eggs are not deposited outside the body. Second stage juveniles of M. whittoni are semi-endoparasitic rather than endoparasitic as in other species of the genus (Troccoli et al., 2017).
Host Plant Resistance, Non-hosts and Crop Rotation alternatives:
Troccoli, A.,Subbotin, S.A., Stanley, J.D., Alford, B., Vovlas, N. ansd Inserra, R.N. 2017. Meloidoderita whittoni (Sledge & Christie, 1962) comb. n. (Tylenchida: Sphaeronematidae) and its parasitic habits on sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.)