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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Mycology and Nematology Genetic Diversity and Biology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #349115
Title: Description of Loffienema dhanoriensis gen. n., sp. n. (Nematoda: Rhabditidae) from Jammu and Kashmir State, India

Author
item SHAH, ALI - Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University
item ALLIE, KAISAR - Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University
item VAID, SHAVISH - Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University
item Handoo, Zafar

Submitted to: Zootaxa
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/19/2018
Publication Date: 3/27/2018
Citation: Shah, A.A., Allie, K.A., Vaid, S., Handoo, Z.A. 2018. Description of Loffienema dhanoriensis gen. n., sp. n. (Nematoda: Rhabditidae) from Jammu and Kashmir State, India. Zootaxa. 4402(1):189-194. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4402.1.11.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4402.1.11

Interpretive Summary: Nematodes are microscopic worms that live in the soil. Some cause crop diseases of $100 billion annually; others feeding on fungi or other microorganisms are beneficial to agriculture. One major agricultural problem is that the species of nematodes in a particular field are often unknown to science. In this study, scientists from India in collaboration with an ARS scientist report the discovery of one new species of nematode called Loffienema dhanoriensis from soil mixed with mature compost in Jammu and Kashmir State, India. This nematode is characterized, described and illustrated anatomically with a light microscope. The research team also discovered how to distinguish anatomically the new species from closely related species. The results are significant because they provide the only details for identifying this new species and distinguishing it from closely related species. Therefore, this research will be used by research scientists, action agencies, and extension agencies involved in nematode research and control.

Technical Abstract: A new genus, Loffienema dhanoriensis gen. n., sp. n. is described and illustrated from soil mixed with mature compost of Biodiversity Park, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah (BGSB) University, Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is characterized by medium-sized body, slightly offset labial region, weakly developed isoglottoid stegostom, amphidelphic reproductive system, slender and separate spicules, spathulate gubernaculum and reduced bursa with eight pairs of bursal rays. Its relationship and distinguishing features with other closely related genera are discussed.