<i>Pratylenchus brzeskii</i> sp. nov. (Nematoda: Pratylenchidae), a root-lesion nematode from European coastal dunes

A root-lesion nematode, Pratylenchus brzeskii sp. nov., is described and illustrated from the roots of Ammophila arenaria (L.) Link from the coastal dunes of the Netherlands; this new species is morphologically characterized by: relatively long females (625-735 µm) with two lip annuli, long stylet (±19 µm) with broad stylet knobs, anteriorly slightly indented, short DGO; pharyngeal gland lobe ranging from 65 to 100 µm; four lateral lines present, inner lines closely together; spermatheca faint, oval to rectangular shaped; vulva posterior, ranging from 75 to 78%, lips slightly protruding, posterior uterine sac 19 to 35 µm long; tail conoid, terminus smooth, rounded to narrowly rounded, relatively long hyaline tail part present. Males occurred abundantly and are slightly smaller in most morphological characteristics. PCR was used to amplify the internal transcribed spacer regions of a ribosomal DNA-cluster of P. brzeskii sp. nov. and compared with the morphological related species P. coffeae, P. loosi and P. penetrans. The rDNA fragments were cut with restriction enzymes; interspecific RFLP's were observed. Pratylenchus brzeskii sp. nov. was also isolated from the coastal dune grasses Elymus farctus (Viv.) Meldris and Leymus arenarius Hochst., and detected in coastal dunes of Belgium, France and Poland