Morphological and molecular characterisation of Distolabrellus veechi (Rhabditida: Mesorhabditidae) from India

A redescription of Distolabrellus veechi (Rhabditida: Mesorhabditidae) from agricultural soils in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, India, is provided. Specimens were extracted from soil using the Galleria soil baiting technique, with two strains of nematodes named JP1 and JP2 being obtained. Morphological and morphometric studies on the species agree well with previous records. Molecular analyses are provided using 18S, 28S and ITS rRNA sequences, the ITS sequences being obtained for the first time in this species. These analyses show that the material examined agrees well with previously studied populations. Phylogenetic analyses showed Distolabrellus to be the sister group of Crustorhabditis and Teratorhabditis. all having the male spicules fused for more than 50% of their length. Illustrations and phylogenetic trees based on 18S, 28S and ITS rRNA sequences are provided.