Taxonomic studies on criconematoidea (Nematoda: Tylenchida) associated with fruit crops from north and north-eastern region of India. I. description of seven new species*

Five new species of Criconematidae viz., Seriespinula truncatum nsp.; Crossonema spinosus nsp.; C. fusifomis n.sp.; C. exhumus n.sp.; C. splendidus n.sp. and two new species of Madinematidae viz., Nothocriconema digitatum n.sp.; N. filicaudatum n.sp.; found around the rhizophere of fruit crops from north and north-eastern India are described and illustrated. Seriespinula truncatum n.sp. is distinctive in having 50–52 body annules, 65–78 pm long spear, 0.364–0.450 mm long body, single trough shaped head annule, an alternate pattern of protuberances bearing 3–4 spines which becomes longer in last 2–3 tail annules. Crossonema spinosus n.sp. is distinctive in having 42–46 body annules, 70–80 μm long spear: body fength 0.385–0.505 mm, shape of head annule, 70–80 dagger shape, occasionally drumb-bell shape spines appears to be in a membraneous fold and pattern of spines; RV 3–4, long ovary; C. fusformis n.sp. having two head annules; margins of both head annules bear 10–12 tubercles, in the posterior third region of body, spines are discontinuous, each row having 5–7 spines. C. exhumus n.sp. having two set off head annules, margin of second annule bears spines, 40–47 body annules, 68–77 μm long spear, the pattern of spines throughout the body remains same. C. splendidus n.sp. having 40–46 body annules, body 0.379–0.462 mm long, spear 76–85 μm long, nature and lesser number of spines, head elevated with two annules, Nothocriconema digitatum n.sp., is characterized having 53–59 thick body annules with serretated margins in posterior half of body, body 0.406–0.51 0 mm long; spear 58–70 μm in length, body suddenly narrows down in posterior third of tail into an almost typically jointed shape, giving the tail annules a phlanged appearance. Nothocriconema filicaudatum n.sp. is less than 0.5 mm in length with 52–62 μm Ions spear, body annules 57–62. The posterior third of body narrows down into an spike like tail to give a digitate appearance.