Morphological and molecular characterisation of Xiphinema zagrosense sp n. (Dorylaimida: Longidoridae) from the Zagros Mountains, Iran

Xiphinema zagrosense sp. n. is described based on morphological and molecular characters. The new species belongs to morphospecies group 6 characterised by having two equally developed female genital branches with spines in uterus and a short, rounded tail. The new species is characterised by having spines in the tubular part of the uterus, body length 3.8-5.0 mm, odontostyle length 151-169 mu m, odontophore 94-105 mu m, conical, dorsally convex tail, four juvenile stages and absence of males. The new species appears closely related to the members of X. pyrenaicum group characterised by a rounded tail with or without an inconspicuous digitate end and a uterus devoid of Z-differentiation but showing spiniform structures. It is compared with X. aceri, X. adenohystherum, X. iranicum, X. mazandaranense, X. nuragicum, X. pyrenaicum, X. robbinsi, X. sphaerocephalum and X. vuittenezi. In addition to morphological and morphometric data, molecular analyses of the near-full-length small subunit rDNA gene (SSU) and large subunit rDNA gene (LSU) D2/D3 placed the new species in close relation with some species belonging to Xiphinema group 6 but differs from other species in the X. pyrenaicum complex.