Morphological and molecular characterisation of <i>Ditylenchoides morocciensis</i> sp. nov. (Nematoda: Anguinoidea) from Morocco

The present study describes a new <i>Ditylenchoides</i> species, isolated from Meknès, Morocco, during nematode surveys conducted to investigate the biodiversity of plant-parasitic nematodes in Mediterranean olive groves and adjacent patches of natural vegetation. Application of integrative taxonomical approaches clearly verified that it is a new species designated herein as <i>Ditylenchoides morocciensis</i> sp. nov., also representing the first report of the genus in Morocco. The new species is parthenogenetic, characterised by a short body 460 (373-528 μm); stylet delicate, relatively short, 8.7 (8.0-9.0) μm long with rounded basal knobs; six lines in the lateral fields; median bulb of pharynx oval, muscular and valvate; secretory-excretory pore located at the level of basal pharyngeal bulb region; vulva located at 79.9 (76.9-81.3) % of body length; relatively long post-vulval uterine sac 29.1 (20.0-39.0) μm; and a subcylindrical tail 24.4 (22.0-28.0) μm long, with a bluntly rounded tip. The results of molecular analysis of D2-D3 28S rRNA, ITS rRNA, partial 18S rRNA, and cytochrome oxidase c subunit 1 (COI) gene sequences support for the new species status and clearly separated <i>D. morocciensis</i> sp. nov. from all other species within <i>Ditylenchoides.</i> Phylogenetic analyses of ribosomal markers (D2-D3 28S rRNA and partial 18S rRNA) of this study confirms that <i>Ditylenchoides</i> is a monophyletic genus, clearly separated from other genera within Anguinoidea.