Preliminary studies on ultrastructure of the female gonad of Xiphinema index and X. mediterraneum (Nematoda: Longidoridae)

Abstract

Published information on the ultrastructure of the female gonads of nematodes is concerned either with animal parasites (Dick and Wright, 1973) or with members of the order Tylenchida (Yuen, 1971; Kisiel et al., 1972) and Rhabditida (Epstein et al., 1971). We have investigated the ultrastructure of the female genital tract of two species of Longidoridae, Xiphinema index Thorne et Allen and X. mediterral1eul11 Martelli et Lamberti. This group of plant parasitic nematodes has recently been shown of considerable economic importance and has excited the interest of many plant pathologists and agricultural nematologists.