Numerical Taxonomy Helps Identification of Merliniidae and Telotylenchidae (Nematoda: Tylenchoidea) from Iran

First record of the ectoparasitic nematode Amplimerlinius macrurus (Nematoda: Tylenchida) on the perennial grass Miscanthus × giganteus (Angiosperms: Poaceae) in Ukraine

The growing interest in biomass production of Miscanthus × giganteus (M × g) (Poaceae) on agricultural and marginal lands has prompted researches to identify plant pathogens and diseases affecting this crop which has a great potential for production of biofuels and different bioproducts. A soil survey of nematodes in the M × g rhizosphere and a report on the collection of the plant-parasitic nematode Amplimerlinius macrurus (Belonolaimidae) were accomplished in two locations in Ukraine. It is known that this family of nematodes can reduce the root system and biomass of Poaceae family plants. Both molecular and morphological characters were used to identify the nematodes; measurements and photomicrographs of the species were presented. This is the first documentation and description of A. macrurus in Ukraine to the best of our knowledge. Further investigation is underway to confirm the pathogenicity of this species on perennial grasses plantations.