Study of Psilenchus species in pistachio gardens of Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran

Abstract

To identify Psilenchus species in pistachio gardens of Khorasan Razavi Province of Iran, 50 soil and plant samples from pistachio roots rhizosphere (Depth 30-50 cm) were collected during years 2016-2017. Samples were transferred on ice to laboratory and nematodes were extracted by centrifugal methods. Psilenchus species were identified on morphological and morphometrical characters based on recent valid keys. Seven species from Psilenchus genus were identified viz., Psilenchus curcumerus, P. aestuarius, P. iranicus, P. hilarus, P. bilineatus, P. pratensis and P. bahiablancae of which P. bilineatus, P. pratensis and P. bahiablancae are new reports of these species for Iranian nematode fauna.