@book {Janssen2017a, title = {Integrative taxonomy of root-knot nematodes reveals multiple independent origins of mitotic parthenogenesis}, series = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, year = {2017}, pages = {e0172190}, abstract = {During sampling of several Coffea arabica plantations in Tanzania severe root galling, caused by a root-knot nematode was observed. From pure cultures, morphology and mor-phometrics of juveniles and females matched perfectly with Meloidogyne africana, whereas morphology of the males matched identically with those of Meloidogyne decalineata. Based on their Cox1 sequence, however, the recovered juveniles, females and males were con-firmed to belong to the same species, creating a taxonomic conundrum. Adding further to this puzzle, re-examination of M. oteifae type material showed insufficient morphological evi-dence to maintain its status as a separate species. Consequently, M. decalineata and M. otei-fae are synonymized with M. africana, which is herewith redescribed based on results of light and scanning electron microscopy, ribosomal and mitochondrial DNA sequences, isozyme electrophoresis, along with bionomic and cytogenetic features. Multi-gene phylogenetic analy-sis placed M. africana outside of the three major clades, together with M. coffeicola, M. ichino-hei and M. camelliae. This phylogenetic position was confirmed by several morphological features, including cellular structure of the spermatheca, egg mass position, perineal pattern and head shape. Moreover, M. africana was found to be a polyphagous species, demonstrat-ing that " early-branching " Meloidogyne spp. are not as oligophagous as had previously been assumed. Cytogenetic information indicates M. africana (2n = 21) and M. ardenensis (2n = 51{\textendash}54) to be a triploid mitotic parthenogenetic species, revealing at least four independent ori-gins of mitotic parthenogenesis within the genus Meloidogyne. Furthermore, M. mali (n = 12) was found to reproduce by amphimixis, indicating that amphimictic species with a limited num-ber of chromosomes are widespread in the genus, potentially reflecting the ancestral state of the genus. The wide variation in chromosome numbers and associated changes in reproduc-tion modes indicate that cytogenetic evolution played a crucial role in the speciation of root-knot nematodes and plant-parasitic nematodes in general.}, isbn = {1111111111}, issn = {19326203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0172190}, author = {Janssen, Toon and Karssen, Gerrit and Topalovi{\'c}, Olivera and Coyne, Danny and Bert, Wim} } @article {Topalovic2017, title = {An early record of Meloidogyne fallax from Ireland}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {2017}, number = {643}, year = {2017}, pages = {33{\textendash}52}, abstract = {Root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp., cause huge economic losses worldwide. Currently, three Meloidogyne spp. are present on the quarantine A2 list of EPPO, M. chitwoodi, M. fallax and M. enterolobii. As a quarantine organism, M. fallax has been detected in England and Northern Ireland on sport turf in 2011, and in England on leek in 2013. However, its presence in Ireland has probably been overlooked since 1965, when Mr. John F. Moore and Dr. Mary T. Franklin had detected a new Meloidogyne species for that time. While the relevant data was recorded and a preliminary manuscript describing the species was prepared but never submitted for publication, and together with the original slides, pictures and drawings, it was restudied recently. We compared the population of Irish Meloidogyne sp. to other similar Meloidogyne spp. Careful observation and comparison shows that it belongs to M. fallax. The characters found to be common for Irish Meloidogyne sp. and M. fallax are female stylet length (14.6 μm) with oval to rounded basal knobs, oval shaped perineal pattern with moderately high dorsal arch, slender stylet in males (18.5 μm) with set off and rounded basal knobs, slightly set off male head with one post-labial annule and incomplete transverse incisures, and second-stage juveniles with large and rounded stylet basal knobs, and a gradually tapering tail (46.9 μm) with a broadly rounded tip and a clearly delimitated smooth hyaline part sometimes marked by constrictions (12.9 μm). The host test and gall formation also correspond to M. fallax. The identification could not be additionally supported by molecular analysis, as we were unable to extract DNA from the old permanent slides. Nevertheless, our study reveals that the Meloidogyne species detected in Ireland in 1965 belongs to M. fallax.}, keywords = {CHARACTERS, Cork, Host, morphology, Morphometrics, Root-knot nematode}, issn = {13132970}, doi = {10.3897/zookeys.643.11266}, author = {Topalovi{\'c}, Olivera and Moore, John F. and Janssen, Toon and Bert, Wim and Karssen, Gerrit} }