Description of Xiphinema pupureum n. sp. (Nematoda: Longidoridae), a new Xiphinema americanum group species detected from the rhizosphere of Ilex purpurea from Japan

A new species of Xiphinema americanum group was recovered in the rhizosphere of holly (Ilex purpurea) imported from Japan. It is described and illustrated in the present study as X. purpureum n. sp. The new species is characterised by moderately long females 2267 (2115-2550) μm, round lip region slightly offset from the rest of the body, 103.5 (98.5-109.0) μm long odontostyle, genital branches without discernible endosymbiotic bacteria, vulva located at 54.1 (51.6-57.1)% of the body, tail 30 (24.3-33.4) μm long with a broadly rounded terminus, male absent and four juvenile developmental stages. The polytomous codes of the new species are as follows: A4/5, B2/3, C1/2, D2/3, E3, F1, G1, H2, I1/2/3. The new species was molecularly characterised using near full length 18S, ITS1, and 28S D2-D3 regions of rRNA, and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene sequences. The phylogenetic analyses placed X. purpureum n. sp. with X. americanum group species, particularly with X. brevicolle complex species. This is the third X. americanum group species described from Japan.