Martininema

  

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Rev 09/25/2023

  Classification Biology and Ecology
Morphology and Anatomy Life Cycle
Return to Martininema Menu Ecosystem Functions and Services
Distribution Management
Return to Aphelenchoididae Menu Feeding  References
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Classification:

      Chromadorea
       Tylenchida
        Aphelenchina
         Aphelenchoidea
          Aphelenchoididae
           Aphelenchoidinae

            Martininema Davies, Ye, Kanzaki, Bartholomaeus, Zeng, & Giblin-Davis, 2015

Type species of the genus: Martininema guangzhouensis Zeng, Giblin-Davis & Ye, 2007

The genus was named in honor of Dr. George C. Martin who conducted foundational studeies on the nematodes of fig sycones in Zimbabwe.

Synonyms:

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Morphology and Anatomy:

Schistonchus is characterised by having the excretory pore opening in the region of, or posterior to, the metacorpus; Ficophagus  by having the excretory pore opening very near the cephalic region; and Martininema  by having it opening at the anterior end of the metacorpus. Several species of Schistonchus have a labial disc but there is no evidence of a labial disc in either Ficophagus or Martininema (Davies et al., 2015)..

The genus Martininema is named in honor of George C. Martin who did pioneering work on the nematodes of fig syconia in Zimbabwe in the Deoartment of Nematology of the Ministry of Agriculture..

 

  • Sslender, 550- 900 μm long.
  •  Cuticle finely annulated. Three or four lateral lines.
  • Cephalic region offset or tapering, cephalic framework hexaradiate, labial disc absent.
  • Stylet robust, 15-20 μm long, with strong basal knobs, conus forming 40-70% of total stylet length.
  • Esophagus with cylindroid procorpus, metacorpus strong, aphelenchoid with post-median valve.
  • Nerve ring located just posterior to metacorpus.
  • Excretory pore opening near level of anterior metacorpus.
  • One or two esophageal glands, dorsal gland lobe overlapping intestine.
  • Vulva a simple transverse slit at 65-90% of body length, usually with slightly protruding lips.
  • Vagina directed anteriorly.
  • Genital tract monodelphic and prodelphic, ovariy usually relatively short and outstretched.
  •  Female tail tip pointed.
  • Male tail sharply recurved.
  • Spicules paired, separate, ventrally arcuate, rose-thorn-shaped with prominent rostrum and rounded condylus.
  • No gubernaculum or caudal alae.
  • Sperm amoeboid.
  • Male tail short, conoid, may be mucronate, tip rounded, with 3 pairs of caudal papillae.
  • Tail conical, attenuated to sharp point.
 
Ref: Nickle, 1970; Davies et al., 2015  
   
   

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

Go To Dictionary of Terminology 

 

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Distribution:

Frequently found associated with sycones (enclosed infrutescences) of Ficus spp.  Probably transported by fig wasps.

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Feeding:

Fig sycones provide an excellent habitat for nematodes. Nematodes of the genera Schistonchus, Ficopgaus and Martininema have  phoretic associations pollinating fig wasps (agaonid wasps).

 The nematodes feed on fig epidermal cells, mature and lay eggs which develop into males and females. These produce a new generation of entomophilic females which mate, and penetrate the new generation of female wasps. Thus when the wasps emerge, ready to seek fresh  sycones, they carry fertilised entomophilic nematodes in their haemolymph.

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Biology and Ecology:

Probably transported by fig wasps.

 

 

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Life Cycle:

For Ecophysiological Parameters for this genus, click 

The nematodes feeding on fig epidermal cells, mature and lay eggs which develop into males and females. These adults produce a new generation of entomophilic females which mate, and penetrate the new generation of female wasps. Thus when the wasps emerge, ready to seek fresh sycones, they carry fertilised entomophilic nematodes in their haemolymph. The pre-reproductive female nematode, which is the  dispersal stage of Schistonchus and related genera, uses volatiles and cuticular hydrocarbons from the female pollinating wasps to select the appropriate wasp vector (Davies et al. 2015).

 

 
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Ecosystem Functions and Services:

 

 

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Management:

 

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References:

Bartholomaeus, F., Davies, K.A., Ye, W. and Giblin-Davis, R.M. 2012. Schistonchus (Aphelenchoididae) from Ficus benjamini in Australia, with description of S. benjamiina sp.n. Nematology 13:1005-1013.

Davies, K.A., Ye, W., Kanzaki, N., Bartholomaeus, F., Zeng, Y. & Giblin-Davis, R.M. (2015). A review of the taxonomy, phylogeny, distribution and co-evolution of Schistonchus Cobb, 1927 with proposal of Martininema n. gen. and Martininema n. gen. (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae). Nematology 17, 761- 829. DOI: 10.1163/15685411-00002907

Nickle, W.R. 1970. A Taxonomic Review of the Genera of the Aphelenchoidea (Fuchs, 1937) Thorne, 1949 (Nematoda: Tylenchida) . J. Nematology 2:375-392.

Zeng Y., Giblin-Davis R.M., Ye W. 2007. Two new species of Schistonchus (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae) associated with Ficus hispida in China. Nematology 9:169-187.

Zeng, Y., Huang, J., Zang, D., Zeng, W., Shi, R., Zhang, Y., Peng, Y., Ye, W., Giblin-Davis, R.M. 2019. Ficophagus auriculatae n. sp. (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae), an associate of the Ficus auriculata-complex in China. Nematology 21:497-508.

 

 

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Copyright © 1999 by Howard Ferris.
Revised: September 25, 2023