Morphological and molecular characterisation of Xiphinema mazandaranense n.sp. (Dorylaimida: Longidoridae), a new member of the Xiphinema pyrenaicum species complex

Xiphinema mazandaranense n. sp. is described and illustrated. The new species belongs to morphospecies group 6, which is characterised by having two equally developed female genital branches that have spines in the uteri and a short, rounded tail. The new species is characterised by having spines in the tubular portion of the uterus, body 3.7-5.2 mm long, odontostyle 163-173 mu m long, odontophore 96-100 mu m long, body 62-80 mu m diam., rounded tail, four juvenile stages, males rare with three ventromedian supplements next to the adcloacal pair and spicules 85 mu m long. The polytomous identification codes of the new species are: A4-B3-C7b-D6-E456-F45-G4-H2-I23-J7b-K2-L1. The new species appears closely related to the members of X. pyrenaicum group which are characterised by a rounded tail with or without an inconspicuous projecting bulge and a uterus devoid of Z-differentiation but showing spiniform structures. The new species differs from members of the X. pyrenaicum group, which includes the recently described X. iranicum, by a more rounded tail without any projection. Beside morphological and morphometric data, molecular analyses of the near-full-length small subunit rDNA gene (SSU) placed the new species in close relationship with some species belonging to Xiphinema morphospecies group 6 and further separated this species from the X. pyrenaicum complex