Inter-population variability in Pratylenchus vulnus Allen & Jensen, 1951 (Nematoda: Tylenchida)

Data on morphometric characters of females and males belonging to a set of Pratylenchus vulnus populations and isolates of different geographical origin and cultured under different developmental conditions were analysed. Characters were grouped into three categories (low, medium and high variability) according to a percentage of inter-population variance. The characters included in the low variability category were barely influenced by environmental conditions, whereas those characters with high values were substantially influenced. Some characters are more significant than others for species identification whereas other, more variable, characters would be better considered when comparing isolates and/or populations of P. vulnus .