title: Meloidogyne petuniae n. sp. (Nemata: Meloidogynidae), a Root-knot Nematode Parasitic on Petunia in Brazil.
abstract: Meloidogyne petuniae n. sp. is described and illustrated from specimens parasitic on petunia (Petunia hybrida L.) in Brasilia, Brazil. The perineal pattern of the female is elongate to ovoid with a high, squarish arch and widely spaced, coarse striae. The stylet of the female is 12.9-16.5 microm long and has three small, rounded knobs that are distinctly set off from the shaft. Each knob is marked by a deep longitudinal indentation posteriorly and anteriorly. In SEM the base of the shaft appears to be divided into six distinct ridges. The excretory pore opens about 15.4-53.6 microm from the head end. Males are approximately 0.8-2.2 mm long. Most specimens have a high and narrow head cap, but in some the head cap is narrow and low. The stylet of the male is 21.1-26.0 microm long and has small, rounded knobs, set off from the shaft, but not indented as in the female. Second-stage juveniles are 353-464 microm long; the labial disc is fused with the medial lips to form a dumbbell-shaped head cap; the medial lips are indented posteriorly; and the head region is marked with one to two irregular annulations. The stylet is 9.2-10.8 microm long and has rounded, posteriorly sloping knobs. The tail is slender, approximately 46.4-57.2 microm long, and has a short hyaline terminus, 10.3-13.5 microm long. The somatic chromosome number is 2n = 41 and the esterase phenotype is VS1-S1, with S1 being a weak band. The malate dehydrogenase phenotype is N1, which is unique for this species. Petunia, tomato, tobacco, pea, and bean are good hosts; pepper, watermelon, and sweet corn are poor hosts; and peanut, cotton, and soybean are non-hosts. Galls produced by this species are smaller on petunia than on tomato.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Charchar
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Eisenback
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hirschmann