Morphological and molecular characterization of plant-parasitic nematode Quinisulcius capitatus (Allen, 1955) Siddiqi, 1971 from Gilgit Province, Pakistan

In a comprehensive survey of plant-parasitic nematodes of Gilgit Province, Pakistan, Quinisulcius capitatus (Allen, 1955) Siddiqi, 1971, was detected from 10 localities at high population density (≥1000 nematodes/100 g of soil) infecting different crop plantations. Morphplogical and molecular variations using principle component analysis of Q. capitatus have been given in this research. This species is characterized by body length (605–856 μm in females and 536–662 μm in males), stylet length (13–19 μm), pharynx (114–174 μm), tail length (40–56 μm in females and 38–50 μm in males), spicules (16–22 μm) and gubernaculum (6–8 μm). Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed the morphometric variation among the Pakistani populations of Q. capitatus. Phylogenetic analysis using the D2-D3 segment of 28S rDNA and ITS rDNA placed the Pakistani population of Q. capitatus in a clade with 100 posterior probability supports. Table with measurements, line illustrations, LM photographs, PCA plot and phylogenetic position for Q. capitatus within Dolchodoridae is given.