Aphelenchoides medicagus n. sp. (Tylenchina: Aphelenchoididae) found in Medicago sativa imported into China from the USA

Aphelenchoides medicagus n. sp. isolated in Ningbo Port, P.R. China, from dried leaves and shoots of Medicago sativa imported from the USA, is described. It is characterised by a lateral field with four lines (three bands), stylet 9.0-12.0 μm long, excretory pore situated at same level as, or slightly posterior, to the nerve ring, vagina sclerotised, female vulval flap absent, post-uterine sac short, spicules 9.2-14.2 μm long (median curved line), rosethorn-shaped, apex and rostrum rounded, poorly developed, female and male tail conical with terminus bearing star-like processes. The new species belongs to the Group 3 category of Aphelenchoides species sensu Shahina. Phylogenetic analyses based on 18S, ITS and 28S D2-D3 of rDNA and mtCOI sequences confirmed its status as a new species and closely related to A. besseyi and A. fujianensis.