Description of Ficophagus siddiqii n. sp. (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae) associated with Ficus amplissima (Moraceae) from India

Abstract

A new nematode population of the genus Ficophagus was recovered from figs of Ficus amplissima from ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India. It is described herein as Ficophagus siddiqii n. sp., distinguished among all known species of the genus by its slender, cylindrical female body and presence of four faint lateral incisures at mid-body, with the outermost pair being the most prominent; a short post-uterine sac (PUS; 5.0–10 μm), a secretory-excretory pore situated near the lips, amoeboid sperm, and three pairs of subventral papillae on the male tail. Conoid tail in both sexes; the male tail tip broadly rounded without mucro and female tail tip pointed or spike-like projection. Gubernaculum absent, rose-thorn-shaped spicules with relatively high condylus – rounded to truncate. This species is also distinguished by its biogeography and host plant, as it is collected from Ficus amplissima. Further, it is characterised by molecular sequences of 18S SSU, 28S D2–D3, Cytochrome c Oxidase Subunit I ( COI ), and Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS). Molecular comparisons of the Indian population of Ficophagus siddiqii n. sp. with other Ficophagus species using D2–D3, SSU, COI, and ITS sequences revealed a clear separation of Ficophagus siddiqii n. sp. from other Ficophagus species.