Some of the plant-parasitic nematodes related to okra in Khuzestan province, southwest Iran

Okra is considered as one of the most important fruit vegetables of tropical regions, one of the main cultivation areas of which in Iran is Khuzestan province. Due to the lack of a comprehensive research on identifying the plantparasitic nematodes related to okra in Iran, the present study tried to identify the nematode species in Khuzestan province. In this regard, several root and soil samples were collected from okra fields in the different areas of the province. In addition, centrifugalfloatation and tray methods were applied to extract the nematodes from soil samples. Further, the adult females of Meloidogyne javanica were separated from root galls by using a sterilized needle and scalpel, fixed, and transferred to pure glycerin through using modified De Grisse method. After preparing permanent microscopic slides, the species were identified on a light microscope equipped with a drawing tube based on the morphological and morphometric characteristics, and valid keys. Based on the results, M. javanica was isolated from the roots and rhizosphere of okra. Furthermore, the other recovered species included Geocenamus brevidens, G. microdorus, G. rugosus, Pratylenchus thornei, Psilenchus hilarulus, P. vinciguerrae and Tylenchorhynchus elegans. In the study, the morphometric data and photomicrographs of the species under study were provided and their differences with other populations were discussed. To the best of our knowledge, the study is the first report of all the latter seven species associated with okra.The morphological and morphometric data related to the Iranian populations of P. vinciguerrae and T. elegans were presented forthe first time.