Updated description of Paratylenchus lepidus Raski 1975 and P. minor Sharma, Sharma and Khan, 1986 by integrating molecular and ultra-structural observations

Two populations of Paratylenchus lepidus and P. minor were detected in the rhizosphere of Elaeocarpus sp. and Chinese red pine from Taizhou and Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. Previously, P. lepidus has been reported from China whereas P. minor was originally described from India decades ago in the rhizosphere of peach but was never reported thereafter. In this study, both species were characterized morphologically and molecularly coupled with SEM observations. Morphologically, both species have four incisures in the lateral field, vulval present (SEM observations), stylet less than 30 μm long and cephalic region without submedian lobes. Phylogenetically, both species grouped with paratylenchid species having short stylets. Both species can be differentiated from each other by the shape of lip region (rounded in P. lepidus and narrow truncated in P. minor) and tail terminus (pointed in P. lepidus and a broadly rounded in P. minor) and several morphomemtrical values.The study provided an updated description of P. lepidus and P. minor and a first record of P. minor from China. In addition, both species are the first paratylenchid species recorded from Elaeocarpus sp. and Pinus tabuliformis, respectively.