غلامرضا نیکنام

The stem and bulb nematode Ditylenchus dipsaci is one of the most important plant-parasitic nematodes with a worldwide distribution, causing damage mainly in temperate regions. Onion, garlic and alfalfa are its main hosts. The use of nematode-free seeds and plant propagation materials, crop rotation, resistant cultivars and chemical nematicides are common methods of its management. Due to the side effects of nematicides on human health and the environment, the use of safe, cost-effective alternative methods are necessary. In this study, the nematicidal effects of the essential oils of mountain thyme, oregano, clove, sage and savory as well as the metabolites of the fungus Scytalidium sp. were studied in comparison to metam sodium under laboratory conditions. To prepare the nematode population, nematodes were extracted from naturally infected garlic from the Gogan region of East Azarbaijan province, reared on carrot discs and incubated at 18 ± 1°C for 60 days. The effects of plant essential oils, fungal metabolites and metam sodium were investigated in bioassays with four replicates, and nematode mortality was recorded after 24 and 48 hours. After a probit analysis, the LC50 and LC90 values were calculated for each of the compounds tested. After 24 hours, the LC50 values for the essential oils clove, oregano, marzeh and thyme were 1748, 769.2, 1662 and 4913 ppm, respectively, and for the fungal metabolite and metam sodium were 207.6 and 6.7 ppm, respectively. Gas chromatography with a mass spectrometer (GC-MS) and a DB5 column was used to identify the components of the essential plant oils and the metabolites, the results of which are presented here. Based on the LC50 values, the compounds tested caused mortality and population decline of D. dipsaci at relatively low concentrations, with the exception of sage-flower.

The Taf region encompasses several distinct local climate zones and harbors rich biodiversity, yet its nematode fauna remains unstudied. The distinguishing characteristics of this superfamily include a relatively short odontostyle, a slender but weakly muscular anterior section of the esophagus, an enlarged basal expansion of the esophagus, which varies in length and is encased by a discernible sheath composed of spiral muscles, and a potentially similar or dissimilar tail morphology in males and females. Presently, the superfamily comprises 36 genera. To investigate the nematode biodiversity of the Taf region in Khorramabad County, 50 soil samples were collected. Among the extracted nematodes, three species belonging to Belondiroidea—Oxydirus oxycephalus, Metaxonchium bihariense, and Syncheilaxonchium nairi—were identified. The morphometric, morphological, and molecular characteristics of these species were analyzed using the 28S rDNA gene region.

Soil samples were collected from the rhizosphere of forest trees in the Taf region. Nematodes were extracted utilizing a modified Brown & Boag (1988) method. Following extraction, specimens were fixed and preserved in anhydrous glycerin according to the protocol outlined by De Grisse (1969) and mounted on permanent glass slides. Species identification was conducted using a light microscope equipped with a Dino-Eye Eyepiece Camera, relying on morphological and morphometric characteristics alongside established taxonomic keys. Photomicrographs were captured using the same microscope outfitted with a DP50 digital camera. Nematode DNA was extracted from individual specimens following the protocol described by Archidona-Yuste et al. (2016). The D2-D3 segments were amplified utilizing the D2A and D3B forward and reverse primers, respectively. Subsequently, the generated sequences were aligned with other 28S rDNA gene sequences available in GenBank using MEGA6 software. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequence datasets was conducted via Bayesian inference (BI) employing MrBayes 3.1.2 under the GTR + I + G model. The resulting tree was visualized using FigTree v1.4.3.

In this study, three species from the Belondiroidea superfamily were identified. Through morphological, morphometric, and D2-D3 expansion analysis of the 28S rDNA, these species were determined to be Oxydirus oxycephalus, Metaxonchium bihariense, and Syncheilaxonchium nairi. Notably, O. oxycephalus was found for the first time within Iran's nematode fauna. In females, O. oxycephalus displays a cylindroid body shape, measuring 1.5-1.8 mm in length. The lip region is slightly asymmetrical, while the spear is fusiform, measuring 6.5-8.0 µm in length. The oesophagus assumes a bottle-shaped configuration, with the basal bulb being cylindrical and encased by a prominent muscular spiral sheath. The vulva is observed as a transverse slit with non-sclerotized lips, and the posterior gonad is normal (opisthodelphic) with a reduced anterior gonad. The tail is long and filiform, typically presenting a swelling. Male specimens share a similar morphology to females, with spicules measuring 34.0-35.5 µm in length and 9-11 ventromedian supplements. The phylogenetic Bayesian consensus tree, derived from D2-D3 28S rDNA analysis, reveals that O. oxycephalus, along with O. oxycephalus (AY593012), forms a subclade with 100% posterior probability (PP) support, situated within a larger clade containing Opisthodorylaimus sylphoides (AY593010 and AY593008) from the Thornenematinae subfamily. The morphological and morphometric characteristics of the S. nairi population studied closely resemble those of the type specimens in terms of general morphology and measurements, indicating a high degree of similarity. A single D2-D3 28S rDNA gene sequence (OR594282) was obtained for S. nairi, which forms a highly supported (100% PP) clade with another representative of Syncheilaxonchium sp. (KP792285 and KP792284).
The Iranian population of M. bihariense closely resembles the type population, with only minor differences observed in body length and pharyngeal length. Notably, a sequence (OR600367) was obtained for the first time for this population.

The placement of O. oxycephalus sequences in the phylogenetic tree, segregated from other taxa within this superfamily and grouped within the same clade (96% posterior probability), alongside O. sylphoides from the Thornenematinae, suggests that Belondiroidea constitutes a polyphyletic group. Additionally, as noted by Peña-Santiago and Abolafia (2023), the presence of a spiral sheath surrounding the expanded part of the pharynx is considered an apomorphic feature.

The rice white tip nematode Aphelenchoides besseyi is the causal agent of summer dwarf disease of the strawberry plant, which causes significant crop damage worldwide each year. Considering the environmental hazards of chemical pesticides, identification of resistance sources in different strawberry cultivars and their application could be one of the effective strategies to control this nematode. To this end, a population of A. besseyi was collected from a strawberry field in Kurdistan province and identified based on the morphological characteristics and sequence of D2-D3 expansion segments of 28S rDNA. Then, the responses of 12 commercial and common strawberry cultivars in the province were studied under greenhouse conditions. The results showed that the effects of nematode infestation on most plant growth and reproduction traits and on the final nematode population in the cultivars were significant at the 1% level. Based on the nematode reproduction factor, 12 cultivars were divided into four groups: The cultivar Missionary with a nematode reproduction factor of 9.04, was recognized as a suitable host for A. besseyi and had the greatest impact on growth and reproductive traits compared to the other cultivars. The cultivars Yalova and Chandler with nematode reproduction factors of 6.73 and 7.20, were classified as relatively suitable hosts, while the cultivars Kurdistan, Aromas and Aliso with nematode reproduction factors of 4.27-4.76 were classified as relatively poor hosts. These cultivars were less affected than Missionary in terms of growth and reproductive characteristics. Krasnayy berg, Selva, Queen Elisa, Camarosa, Mrak and Paros cultivars with nematode reproduction...

The genus Pseudoaulolaimus Imamura, 1931 along with the genus Aulolaimus are placed in the family Aulolaimidae Jairajpuri & Hooper, 1968, suborder Leptolaimina and order Areolaimida. Pseudoaulolaimus anchilocaudatus Imamura, 1931, is the only species in this genus, which was for the first time described by Imamura (1931) from a rice field in Japan. This species and the genus as well are mainly characterized by an anchor-like (fork-shaped) end of the tail in both males and females, which is a unique feature among all the known free-living members of the phylum Nematoda. The type material of this species was lost during World War II. However, more than 50 years after its first description, Sturhan and Lorenzen (1982) collected and reported P. anchilocaudatus from several localities in Germany and the Netherlands and provided a detailed redescription of the species based on the European type materials. This species has also been reported from Vietnam (Sturhan 2005) and Hungary (Andraasy 1997). In a survey conducted to study nematodes of Pir Naim village, Savadkuh County, Mazandaran province, North of Iran, a population including four females and eight males were extracted from soil of a rice field using tray method during 2020. After preparing the microscopic slides, their morphological and morphometric characteristics were examined and the obtained data of the population fit well to the original description; so, the population was identified as P. anchilocaudatus.

Jabbari H, Niknam G, Fallahi A (2023) First report of Proleptonchus brevisaccus (Nematoda: Leptonchida) from Iran. Plant Pathology Science 12(2):86-94.
Abstract: Nematodes are vermiform, with wide host range and geographical distribution, diverse and species-rich multicellular animals, which form a separate phylum in the kingdom of animals with the ability of living and surviving in all habitats. In order to identification of nematodes fauna of Astara- Mishe Sui forest – Gilan province, Iran, several soil samples were collected from sandy areas around a local river during 2014. The nematodes were extracted from samples by usual methods of nematology and after killing and fixing the nematodes were transferred to pure glycerin. Permanent microscopic slides of the nematodes were prepared and their morphological and morphometric characteristics examined using an optical microscope. Among the different feeding groups of nematodes, a population of the family Leptonchidae and the genus Proleptonchus was also obtained. The main character of the genus is having a flask-shaped cheilostome. Using valid references and identification keys, the population was identified as P. brevisaccus. This species belongs to the members of the genus that have short post vulval sac. Based on available literature, P. brevisaccus is a new record for the nematode fauna of Iran and its male is reported and described for the first time.

Root-lesion nematodes genus Pratylenchus are among the 10 most important plant parasitic nematodes in the world. Their economic damage as the third damaging group sometimes reaches 85%. In this research, the response of 100 landraces of spring bread wheat, 20 cultivars and two species Aegilops tauschii and Ae. cylindrica was evaluated to root-lesion nematode under greenhouse conditions in the form of a randomized complete block design. ANOVA analysis was done based on one-way analysis of variance and to compare the averages, the least significant difference (LSD) test was used at the probability level of 5%. The results showed that inoculation with nematodes led to a significant decrease in the growth indices. The effect of genotype and nematode inoculation on all phenotypic traits was significant at the 5% probability level. Based on the reproduction factor, the genotypes were divided into five groups with RF <0.36 (resistant), 0.36-0.58 (semi-resistant), 0.58-0.81 (tolerant), 0.81-1.03 (semi-sensitive) and RF > 0.03 (sensitive). Ten genotypes (8.2%) as sensitive, 12 genotypes (9.83%) as semi-sensitive, 30 genotypes (24.59%) as tolerant, 49 genotypes (40.16%) as semi-resistant and 21 genotypes (17.21%) were identified as resistant. A direct relationship between the nematode-related indices (RF and the number of nematodes per root weight) and the growth indices of plants after nematode infection was observed, so that the higher the nematode indices, the lower the plant growth index. This matter showed the significant effect of nematode on the studied genotypes.

The genus Chronogaster Cobb, 1913 of the family Chronogasteridae Gagarin, 1975 included 55 valid species which have been reported from terrestrial, marine and freshwater habitats in different localities in the world. In the of nematode fauna of Gurigol Lake, East Azarbaijan province (GPS, 37˚ 54ʹ 40ʹ Nʺ and 46˚ 42ʹ 10ʺ E) and soil in Khaki Beig, Divandarreh Kordestan province (GPS: 36˚ 11ʹ 21ʹ Nʺ and 6˚ 54ʹ 26ʺ E) two populations of Chronogater were collected. The nematodes extracted by using sieves and centrifugation, and transferred to anhydrous glycerin. The nematodes were mounted on microscopic slides and their morphological and morphometric characters studied using Olympus BX 41 optical microscope and digital images prepared by a DP50 camera. Both populations were identified as C. rotundicauda Heyns & Coomans, 1983.

The genus Hexatylus Goodey, 1926 belonging to the family Neotylenchidae is distinguished from other members of the family with cephalic framework with eight sectors, the presence of strengthening rings around stylet, forked stylet at base, dorsal gland orifice near the base of stylet, lumen of esophagus joins lumen of intestine in region of nerve ring, esophagus glands overlap intestine dorsally, mono pro-delphic gonad in females, vulva as a transverse slit, close to anus, genital branch without post vulval sac, tail short, with sharp end and pointed tip. Goodey (1926) reported Hexatylus viviparus associated with diseased potato tubers in England. The nematode is spread worldwide and there are reports of this species in Europe, Asia and America. A population of this species was collected from the soils of Chaldoran, West Azarbaijan province and the nematodes were extracted using combined sieving and centrifuge method and after killing, fixing, transferred to anhydrous glycerin. They were mounted on microscopic slides and the morphological and morphometrical characters studied using an Olympus AX70 optical microscope and digital images prepared by a connected camera to the microscope.

Nematodes are an abundant and very diverse group among the living organisms of soils. They are few information about them as animals which can live in all habitats including fresh waters, marines, soil of farms, gardens, forests and pastures. In addition to plant parasitic nematodes, which have parasitic relationship with different plants in agricultural soils, nematodes belonging to other trophic groups also have indirect impacts on the growth of plants in the agroecosystems and nature. They are used as biological indicators of soil health. The knowledge on their abundance, presence or absence of different groups of nematodes in the soils are considered important in various biological sciences.

In order to study the diversity of dorylaimid nematodes in Arasbaran forests, 65 soil samples were collected during 2015-2016 from different plant rhizosphere. The soil samples were transferred to the Nematology laboratory- University of Tabriz and kept at four degree centigrade until extraction time. They processed and the nematodes extracted, killed, fixed and transferred to anhydrous glycerin using common nematology methods. After preparing permanent microscopic slides, their morphometric and morphological characteristics were studied under optical microscope and identification was done using related valid literature. The morphometric data of nematode and microscopic images prepared using Motik optical microscope connected to scaled lens and future wine camera, respectively. All figures were prepared by Corel draw® 12 software.

As a result 20 dorylaim species (Crassolabium saccatum, C. himalum, C. ettersbargense, Syncheilaxonchium nairi, Paravulvus hartingii, Eudorylaimus spaulli, Epidorylaimus lugdunensis, Nygolaimus brachyuris, Paraxonchium carmenae, Metaxonchium persicum, Aulolaimus oxycephalus, A. nanocephalus, Discolaimus mariae, Longidorella soadi, Sectonema demani, Xiphinema macroacanthum, X. vuittenezi, X. uthahense, Longidorus africanus, Tylencholaimus constricus, T. tahatikus, Xiphinemella globilabiata, Enchodelus macrodorus which are belonging to 16 genera and ten different families. The family Qudsianematidae had more number of genera (five) and two genera, Crassolabium (three species) and Xiphinema (three species) were found having the most number of species compared to the other genera. Six species namely Discolaimus mariae, Crassolabium saccatum, C. himalum, C. ettersbargense, Xiphinema uthahense and Tylencholaimus tahatikus that are new records for Iran nematode fauna described here in.

mariae has been reported for the first time around the roots of olive trees in Spain by Pen-santiago. In this study, the nematode was collected and identified in Arasbaran forests -Shirin Bolagh. Comparing the present population of D. mariae with its main description there were not much differences. The only difference was in the c index (80-95 vs. 88-73).

The closest species to C. saccatum is C. circuliferum which distinguished from that by non-sclerotized vulval region in C. saccatum. C. diversum as another related species to C. saccatum is characterized by a complete offset head (vs. relatively offset head) and posterior position of vulva (V= 52.9-57 vs. V = 49-50).
This population of C. ettersbargense can be compared to the morphometric characteristics of previous reports that has shorter body length (0.5-0.6 mm vs. 0.6-1 mm). In members of Crassolabium having equal to less than one millimeter body length is characteristic of C. ettersbergense, C. medianum, C. pumilum, C. goaens and C. pumilum. C. medianum species has bubble-like organs in the tail (vs. absence of them in C. ettersbergense). C. pumilum has no pars refringense, and the expanded part of the esophagus is one third of length of the esophagus (vs. absencs pars refringense in C. ettersbergense, and the above ratio is 50-60% of the esophagus). C. goaens distinguished from C. ettersbergense with longer Odontostyle (15-17 vs. 11-12 µm). The head in C. parvulum, is different in comparing C. ettersbergense (continues vs. offset).
Crassolabium himalum comparing the main description has slightly longer tail (25-27 vs. 21-24 μm. C. himalum is comparable for morphological traits with C. neohimalum and C. porosum. The C. neohimalum is characterized by a shorter body length (1.07-1.35 mm vs. 1.32 to 1.47 mm) and the asymmetrical lips (vs. symmetrical). The C. himalum is also distinguished from C. porosum by having offset head- (vs. countinouse) and a relatively tall tail (25-27 μm versus 21).
Xiphinema uthahense is member of Xiphinema americanum - group and compared to the main description and previous reports, there was no significant difference between the morphological traits and the morphology. The species X. taylori, due to the lower coefficient b (5.6-7.5 vs. 8-8.5), has a lower coefficient (39.3 -51 vs. 61-6605) and the coefficient c 'less (0.75 - 1 vs. 1.2-1.7) can be distinguished from X. utahense species. X. pacificum is relatively longer (5.8-7.8 vs. 8-8.5).
Tylencholaimus tahatikus in morphological characteristics has similarity to T. mongolicus and T. innebus. Compared to T. mongolicus it has a longer odontostyle (10.6 - 15 μm vs. 7-6 μm), longer tail (19-22 μm vs. 14-8 μm), greater c (44-50 vs. 24-30) and c 'is less (0 / 9-7 / 0 vs 1/2 - 1). In T. innebus, V is greater (V =62-64 vs. V= 57-53) and shorter body length (0.54-0.68 mm vs. 0.95 -0.90 mm).

Abstract Dorylaimids contain the most number of nematodes and take part in various aspects of ecosystem. For this reason and for study on dorylaimid fauna, 70 soil samples were collected from the rhizosphere of different vegetations in Kahaq region, Maragheh, East Azarbaijan province during 2014 and 2015. Then sampels were transfered to laboratory. Nematodes were extracted by centrifugal flotation technique and transferred to glycerin according to the modified De Grisse (1969) method. The permanent slides were prepared from the extracted nematodes. The nematodes were identified under light microscope. The morphometric data were taken using a drawing tube attached to the microscope. For identification of nematode speciments, species keys and references were used. As the results, Aulolaimoides elegans, Crassolabium cylindricum, C. rhopalocercum, Diphtherophora tenera, D. communis, Dorylaimoides elegans, D. limophilus, Ischiodorylaimus cognatus, I. paraugandanus, Margollus bokanicus, Mesodorylaimus potus, Metaxonchium persicum, Opisthodorylaimus sylphoides, Oxydirus oxycephaloides, Paravulvus microdontus, Pungentus engadiensis, Syncheilaxonchium nairi, Thornia propinqua, T. parathermophila and Tylenchilaimus minimus were identified. M. potus and the genus Thornia are new records for Iran nematode fauna.

In a survey conducted to identify terrestrial nematodes of Roodghat area, Sufiyan-East Azerbaijan province, Iran, 80 soil samples were collected during 2016 and 2017. The soil samples were processed and the nematodes were extracted, killed, fixed, and transferred to anhydrous glycerin as usual. Permanent microscopic slides were prepared from the nematodes. Their morphological characteristics and morphometric properties were studied under an optical microscope consisting of a drawing tube. In this study, 35 species belonging to 25 genera (plant parasitic and non-plant parasitic) were identified that among them Axodorylaimellus deviatus (Baqri & Jairajpuri, 1969) Jairajpuri & Ahmad, 1980, Kochinema tenue Argo & Van Den Berg 1971, Laevides laevis (Thorne, 1939) Thorne, 1974, Metaporcelaimus labiatus (de Man, 1880) Andrássy, 2001andMetaxonchium bihariense (Popovici, 1990) Andrássy, 1996 were new records for the nematode fauna of Iran and are described here.

The genus Campydora Cobb, 1920, has a unique status among the phylum Nematoda based on head shape and the structure of esophagus. The genus has shown a common ancestor with the genera Alaimus, Tripyla, and Ironus under the order Enoplida as inferred from 18S ribosomal DNA sequence studies (Mullin et al., 2003). The family Campydoridae Thorne, 1935 contains only one genus and a single species without any additional species or genus. Sturhan (2010), found and reported Campydora demonstrans from Qazvin, Mashhad and Khorramabad regions in Iran from rhizosphere soils of herbaceous, tomatoes, alfalfa and wheat fields. He did not provide information on the morphological and morphometrical characteristics of the populations, so far. A population of this species was collected from the soil around Miyaneh city, East Azarbaijan province and the nematodes extracted using Jenkins (1964) and transferred to anhydrous glycerin by De Grisse (1969) methods. They were mounted on microscopic slides and the morphological and morphometrical characters studied using an Olympus BX 41 optical microscope and digital images prepared by a DP50 camera.

Plant parasitic nematodes are distributed in all agricultural soils and attack nearly all crops, damage and cause disease. In studying biology, management and other aspects of plant parasitic nematodes, their precise identification should be carried out up to species level. Kahaq region, Maragheh, East Azarbaijan province, is a natural ecosystem and under cultivation of agricultural crops as well. Fruit trees such as walnut, almond, apple, quince and crops like wheat, barley, chickpea and fruitless trees as spruce and willow are grown in the region. Due to the paucity of previous studies the current study set out for the identification of nematode fauna in soils of this region.
In order to identify plant parasitic nematodes, 70 soil samples were collected from the rhizosphere of different vegetations in Kahaq region, Maragheh, East Azarbaijan province during 2014 and 2015. The samples were transferred to laboratory and nematodes extracted by centrifugal flotation technique were transferred to anhydrose glycerin according to the modified De Grisse (1969) method. Permanent slides were prepared from the extracted nematodes and some cross sections were also made from different parts of some nematode bodies if needed. The nematodes were studied under light microscope. The morphometric data were taken using a drawing tube attached to the microscope. Drawings were done using Corel DRAW X7 software. Pictures were taken using DP50 digital camera attached to the microscope.
The results of this study led to the identification of Amplimerlinius globigerus, Criconemoides informis, Mesocriconema antipolitanum, Ogma cobbi, Pratylenchus neglectus, P. thornei, Pratylenchoides erzurumensis, Xiphinema index, X. pyrenaicum, Xiphinema sp. and Zygotylenchus guevarai.
Morphological and morphometric characteristics of two plant parasitic nematodes out of 11 identified species were described in details. Ogma cobbi shows much similarity with O. nemorosus, but the latter differs from the former species because of fewer number of body annuli (45-54 vs 58-61), shape of scales in mid-body (triangular, with rounded tip vs rather acute), empty spermatheca vs full of sperm, occasional presence of smaller scales between rows, especially on posterior half of body (vs not). Xiphinema sp. becomes more similar to X. brevisicum, but is separated from it by lower a value (53-67 vs 72.5-98), cˊ value (1.5-2 vs 2.2-3.1), greater odontostyle length (77-86 vs 57-65 μm) and shorter tail length (27-31 vs 35-47 μm). It also differs from other species of the genus and, hence, considered as an undescribed species.

Cabbage cyst nematode (Heterodera cruciferae, Franklin, 1945) is a nematode that probably due to less geographical distribution and relatively lower crop losses in comparison to related species has gained less attention. All members of Brassicaceae and some species of Lamiaceae are infected by the nematode. Cabbage cyst nematodes was observed in vegetable growing areas of suburb of Tabriz on cabbage and some weeds such as Chenopodoum album, Sonchus asper and Sisymbrium loeselii as well. A population of this nematode collected from the infected vegetable fields of Tabriz and its identity was confirmed based on morphological, morphometrical and molecular data. Propagation and maintainance of the nematode was carried out on its main host (white cabbage and kohlrabi) under greenhouse conditions. RNA was extracted from the nematode and transcriptome of the population including third, fourth stage juveniles and adult females analysed. The results revealed that most already reported parasitism genes from other plant parasitic nematodes such as potato cyst nematode, sugar beet cyst nematode, reniform nematode and pine wood nematode are expressed in cabbage cyst nematode, too. Furthermore, it was found that, β-1,4-endogluconase, 14-3-3, glutathione peroxidase, pectatelyase, chitinase, major sperm protein, calreticulin, calmodulin, venum allergen like protein, ubiquitin extension protein, peroxiredoxin, chorismate mutase, aldolase, annexin, galectin, VRFamid receptor and arginine kinase could be considered as a part of the nematode parasitism effectors. All sequences were deposited in NCBI.

Traditionally, in suburbs of Tabriz city, northwest Iran (GPS 38˚06΄N, 46˚15΄E, mean temperature of 6.6-20.0°C, sandy loam soil type), different types of vegetables including cabbages have been cultivated for many years. The cabbage cyst nematode, Heterodera cruciferae was reported as one of the plant parasitic nematodes infecting kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea L. var. gongylodes) and white cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. captita alba) in the region. Besides these plants, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, radish and Alyssum maritimum, Crambe maritime, Cheiranthus allionii, C. cheiri, Iberis umbellate, Lepidium sativum, Raphanus sativus, Sinapis alba, Lamium album, L. purpureum, Stachysannua, Alyssum montanum, Lunaria annua, Moricandia arvensis and M. sonchifolia, carrot, pea, potato, sweet sop (Annonas quamosa), sugar beet and garden beet, are known as hosts of the H. cruciferae worldwide. During a study on the life cycle of cabbage cyst nematode on its main hosts in the region, 2012-2013, several vegetable crops and different weeds were sampled and checked for the possibility of infection with the cyst nematode. The roots of the plants were stained using lactoglycerin-acid fuchsin solution, examined under stereomicroscope and different developmental stages of the nematode monitored. The morphological and morphometric characters of cysts were determined. As a result, the plants Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L., Umbelliferae), Sonchus (Sonchus asper (L.) Hill., Asteraceae) and Sisymbrium loeselii L. Brassicaceae were found as naturally infected hosts of the cabbage cyst nematode (Fig 1) and herein are reported as new hosts of H. cruciferae. According to available literature, there is no previous documentation of these plants as hosts of the nematode. Other plants such as Chenopodium album, Raphanus sativus and Lepidium sativum found that are infected by the cabbage cyst nematode in the area, too.

Alfalfa with 78631 hectares area in East Azarbaijan province and approximately 6410 hectares in Ahar region is an important field crop in this area. There was no compre­hensive research about the plant parasitic nematodes associated with alfalfa، therefore during 2002-2003، 33 soil samples were collected from alfalfa fields of several locations in alfalfa fields in Ahar region، partly biodiversity plant parasitic nematodes in this crop were identified. Nematodes were extracted by combined sieving and centrifugal-floatation and were transferred to glycerin method. After preparation، microscopic slides were examined under the light microscope. Measurements and drawing of nematodes were carried out using a drawing tube equipped with the micro­scope. Different species were identified on the basis of morphological characters as well as morphometric parameters and available literature. In this survey، 20 species of 11 genera belonging to suborder Tylenchina included: Boleodorus thylactus، Coslenchus aquaticus، Criconemella antipolitana، Ditylenchus dipsaci، Ditylenchus medicaginis، Geocenamus brevidens، Geocenamus nanus، Geocenamus quadrifer، Helicotylenchus digonicus، Helicotylenchus pseudorobustus، Helicotylenchus، Paratylenchus italiensis، Paratylenchus tateae، Pratylenchus scribneri، Pratylenchus neglectus، Pratylenchus thornei، Psilenchus iranicus، Tylenchorhynchus parvus، Tylenchorhynchus striatus، Zygotylenchus guevarai were identified. Finally، Coslenchus aquaticus and Tylenchorhynchus striatus are new records of plant parasitic nematodes fauna from Iran.

Stimulation of egg hatching of cabbage cyst nematode (Heterodera cruciferae) were investigated by soil drainages of host (kohlrabi and white cabbage) and non-host (lettuce) plants in different life stages, under different temperature conditions including 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25°C. Soil drainages of non-host plant and three and six-months-old seedlings of host plants were collected at 2, 4, 6 and 8 leaves developmental stages. Different concentrations of soil drainagesincluding undiluted soil drainages, soil drainagesdiluted 1:4 or 1:16 with water were used. Pot’s draining water and tap water were used as two negative controls and 0.3 M ZnCl2 solution as a positive control. Twenty-five cysts were stored in a 24-well plastic plate containing the soil drainagessolutions. The rate of eggs hatching was noted with a week intervals up to three weeks. The results showed that dilution of six-months-old white cabbage soil drainages1:4 at six leaves stage enhanced stimulation of hatching at 20°C compared with other treatments.

In order to identify plant parasitic nematodes fauna in farmlands and orchards ofArdebil province (Nir, Namin and Ardebil), Iran, twenty-six species were identified which 22species belonged to suborder Tylenchina and four species to suborder Dorylaimina. Amongthem, Pratylenchoides magnicauda from apple orchard, Trophurus minnesotensis frompotato, rapeseed and alfalfa fields and Xiphinema basilgoodeyi from apple and walnutorchards are new records for Iran. Their morphological characters and morphometric featuresare dissuccced.

To determination of thermal preferance range, the life cycle of an endemic isolate of eachcommon entomopathogenic nematode species in Iran, Steinernema feltiae Filipjev andHeterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar was studied, separately. One isolate of each species collected from Tabriz and its suburb soils, were evaluated under four temprature levels viz 4±1, 15±1, 24±2 and 30±1°C on Galleria mellonella L. last instar larvae for 13 days. The experiment was carried out twice, for each isolate. The life cycle of H. bacteriophora was completed at 30±1 and 24±2 °C and IJs were appeared in 10th and 12th days post infection, respectively. At 15±1°C up to end of the experiment, only first generation (hermaphrodite females) of the species was appeared and after 312 hours, its life cycle was not completed. At 4±1°C, after 13 days (312 hours post infection) larval mortality due to nematode infectivity was not observed. For S. feltiae at 30±1°C despite insect infectivity, just first generation offsprings were emerged and second generation was not appeared. At 24±2°C the life cycle was completed and IJs observed in 8th day. At 15±1°C, mortality of G. mellonella larvae was occurred with one day delay compared to 24±2°C. The life cycle was completed and IJs appeared in 12th day. At 4±1°C, insect’s mortality due to nematode infection was not observed. Results of this study showed that the preference temperature for S. feltiae activity is lower than H. bacteriophora and the thermal preference ranges should be considered as they are used for biological control of insect pests.

During 2008 a study was conducted for evaluation of the effects of osmotic potential on the growth and macroconidia production of three species of Fusarium including Fusarium semitectum, F. moniliform and F. solani, which were isolated from potato and wheat fields in Golestan province. The experiment was carrued out on soil extract agar media amended with potassium chloride and glycerol in three replicates. The result showed that osmotic potential significantly reduced (p<0.05) mycelial growth rate and macroconidia production in all examined species of Fusarium

A computer software was designed to facilitate identification of nematode species. The first section of the computer program was prepared to identify the species of the genus Criconemoides. NEMIDSOFT can be easily installed on personal computers with a minimal requirements. The software can be edited by users and developed and generalized to other genera of the nematodes. By having the morphological characteristics and morphometrical data entered in the search section of the software, some of already identified and closely related species in the database are introduced to the user as the most similar species to the understudied populations. The user, based on a description of the introduced species available in the database, is led to select one of the species that is closest to the population. NEMIDSOFT is a very user-friendly tool and is the first designed software for computer identification of nematodes in Iran.

The reaction of four field tomato cultivars (Super Strain B, Super Chief, Mobil, and Royal) along with two greenhouse cultivars (Polaris and ES 1002 F1) was evaluated agianst M. javanica under greenhouse conditions. The soil around tomato seedlings (bearing 5-6 leaves) was inoculated with two levels of the nematode inoculum i.e. 1000 and 2000 eggs as well as second stage juveniles per every kg of soil in pots. Control treatments received only sterile water lacking any nematode. For the experiments, completely randomized design was employed and each treatment was repeated in ten replications. Sixty days past inoculation, data of growth factors related to plants as well as to nematode reproduction were recorded and nematode reproduction factor (Pf/Pi), final nematode population, root gall, and egg mass indices assessed. Final results showed that all the cultivars were infected by the nematode, but Super Chief was found more sensitive and was figured out as a susceptible cultivar. Polaris and ES 1002 F1, both greenhouse cultivars, were evaluated as tolerant vs. relatively resistant cultivars, respectively.

From the soil samples that were collected and studied for identification of plant parasitic and entomopathogenic nematodes in East Azarbaijan and Golestan provinces during 2005-2007, some free-living and predatory nematodes were also extracted and identified. Achromadora walkeri Al-Banna & Gardner,1993 was recovered from Kaleibar soil samples, Tripyla affinis de Man, 1880 from Citrus garden in Gorgan, Tripylina longa Brzeski & Winiszewska-Slipinska, 1993 from rhizosphere willow in Maragheh and Eutobrilus sp. from rhizosphere of grass plants of Kaleibar. A. walkeri is distinguished with having fine transverse striae, rows of fine dots, multispiral amphidial fovea at the level of stoma, two rows of cephalic setae, short rectum and absence of pre-rectum. T. affinis is characterized with inconspicuous amphids, short inner labial papillae, slender stoma with a large dorsal tooth and two small sub-ventral denticles anterior to the dorsal tooth. T. longa have a large dorsal tooth and two sub-ventral denticles in stomatal chamber, two ventromedian setae in oesophagus region and single gonad in female. Eutobrilus sp. is characterized with having funnel shaped amphid, stoma with two overlapping adjacent pockets with two small denticle and echinate supplements in male. The four species are new records for Iran`s nematode fauna.

In order to identify the fungi associated with sugar beet cyst nematode, Heterodera schachtii, in W. Azarbaijan province, northwest Iran, a number of 400 fungi isolates were recovered and studied from different stages of the nematode life cycle during 2002-2004. In this paper, 12 identified species belonging to 11 genera are presented as Alternaria alternate, Alternaria malorum, Arthrinium phaeospermum, Arthrobotrys oligospora, Botryotrichum piluliferum, Chaetomium spiralotrichum, Cladosporium oxysporum, Cylindrocarpon destructans, Embellisia chlamydospora, Geomyces pannorum, Stemphylium botryosum and Ulocladium atrum. Among them, two species viz. Botryotrichum piluliferum and Geomyces pannorum are as new records for the mycoflora of Iran. Four species viz. Alternaria malorum, Arthrinium phaeospermum, Botryotrichum piluliferum and Geomyces pannorum are reported from naturally infected sugar beet cyst nematodes for the first time. With dentification of these fungi, they will be considered as biological control candidates of sugar beet cyst nematode.

The acorn weevil, Curculio glandium Marsham, is an important forest pest of oak trees in most of countries as well as Iran. The pest disturbs regeneration of host trees by feeding on their acorn. The necessitate to control the pest as well as limitations of chemical pesticide application in natural resources, different indigenous entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs): Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and Steinernema bicornutum were tested under laboratory conditions upon the fifth instar larvae of acorn weevil collected from Arasbaran forest. In the first experiment, penetration assay was conducted using a suspension of 4000 IJs of the EPNs per 1 ml distilled water in multi-well plates. The plates were incubated for 40 h at 25ºC and dead larvae were dissected. Penetration percentage was %1.6 for H. bacteriophora and %0.55 for S. bicornutum. In the second experiment, H. bacteriophora and S. bicornutum were applied at different concentrations (0, 150, 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 IJs per 1ml of distilled water) in the 9 cm Petri plates lined with filter papers in order to test their capability of parasitization of the fifth instar larvae of C. glandium. The experiments were conducted at two temperature ranges (21-24ºC and 25-28ºC). Maximum mortality caused by H. bacteriophora and S. bicornutum were %58.3, %25 (at 21-24ºC) and %63.5, %30.5 (at 25-28ºC), respectively. Therefore, H. bacteriophora caused higher larval mortality comparing to S. bicornutum at both temperature ranges. Analysis of variance revealed significant nematode species and concentration as well as temperature effects on larval mortality. By increasing of concentration of nematode and temperature, larval mortality was raised. The highest penetration in larva and the highest mortality of fifth instar larvae of C. glandium was observed for H. bacteriophora under the both temperature ranges. Based on probit analysis, the LC50 of H. bacteriophora at two temperature ranges of 21-24ºC and 25-28ºC were determined 1331 and 1037 IJs/ml, respectively. Regression analysis showed significant relationship between concentrations and larval mortality in both nematodes and both temperature ranges. Therefore, H. bacteriophora comparing to S. bicornutum is more effective and can be suggested for complementary studies toward finding a suitable biocontrol agent of the pest.