Description of Globodera sandveldensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Heteroderidae) from South Africa

A new cyst nematode, herein described as Globodera sandveldensis n. sp., was found in the Sandveld, Western Cape Province, South Africa. As the host plant of G. sandveldensis n. sp. is currently unknown, the species is represented by cysts and second-stage juveniles (J2) only. The J2 are characterised by a well developed stylet of 26.4 (24.8-28.5)  μ m with rounded to anteriorly flattened knobs. The distance from the dorsal pharyngeal gland outlet to the stylet knobs is 4.5 (2.4-7.2)  μ m. The tail is 64 (56-77)  μ m long and the length of the hyaline region is 33 (22-39)  μ m. The cysts are characterised by their ovate to spherical shape, short neck, and the presence of subcuticular punctations and bullae or vulval bodies. Six to 14 cuticular ridges/lines are present on the outer surface of the cyst between the anus and vulval basin. Granek’s ratio is 1.7 (0.9-3.0), the vulval basin diam. is 20.4 (13.1-34.6)  μ m and the distance between vulval basin and anus is 33.5 (19.7-54.0)  μ m. Phylogenetic relationships with other species of the genus, inferred from ITS-rDNA sequences, indicate that G. sandveldensis n. sp. is included in the clade of Globodera sp. that parasitise non-solanaceous plants and is closely related to unidentified Globodera spp. from Portugal, G. millefolii , and G. artemisiae .