Two new species of Aphelenchoides (Nematoda: Aphelenchida: Aphelenchoidea: Aphelenchidae) from Manipur, India

Analysis of the soil samples collected from around rhizospheric region of mulberry plants grown in Yurembam Rose Garden, Yurembam, Imphal West, Manipur yielded several soil and plant parasitic nematodes. Among them four species of Aphelenchoides were recorded. Upon detailed study, two species of Aphelenchoides were found to be new to science. Aphelenchoides dhanachandi sp. n. is characterized by ventrally curved body, clearly set off cephalic region and tail ending into a sharp pointed terminus, and stylet slender, 13.6–15.3 (14 ± 0.7) μm long with indistinct basal swellings and tamarind seed-shaped median bulb. Aphelenchoides neoechinocaudatus sp. n. is characterized by straight body with four incisures in the lateral field, flatten cephalic region, slender stylet with indistinct basal swellings, 11.9 μm long, elongated pear-shaped median bulb and short tail with pointed mucro. The two species are illustrated here.