Ditylenchus rafiqi n. sp. from pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) from India with a tabular key for the species known from India

Summary Ditylenchus rafiqi n. sp. was recovered from the rhizosphere of pomegranate in New Delhi (India), and it is characterised by morphological, morphometrical molecular methods. The new species having a body length 553-901 μ m, delicate stylet (7-10 m long), longer conus (5.0-5.5 females 4.5-5.5 males) with small round knobs sloping backward, seven lateral lines at mid-body, median bulb well developed thickening lumen walls, post-uterine sac (27-47 m), tail long, elongate conoid an almost terminus (45-74 m) male spicule 15-17.5 gubernaculum simple, leptoderan type bursa enveloping >50% its length. A detailed study based on morphological methods clearly demarcates that D. differs other known . characterisation done using D2-D3 28S rRNA ITS markers. Molecular shows closely related to acutus , gilanicus (D2-D3 marker), medicaginis (ITS markers). Based phylogenetic analyses LSU markers, forms intermediate clade between triformis dipsaci groups.