Variability within Xiphinewa insigne populations from India

Abstract

A study of twenty-three populations of Xiphinema insigne Loos, 1949 from India shows extreme variability within this species. These populations can be divided into two distinct groups i) insigne-form and ii) indicum-form. The adults and the juveniles of the two forms differ from each other in the shape of the lip region, length of the odontostyles, position of the fixed guiding ring from the anterior extremity, tail lengths, values of c and c' ratios etc. The anterior ovary of the indicum-form though greatly reduced is occasionally functional. A description is given of males of X. insigne (syn. X. indicum) newly reported from India. Synonymy of X. indicum with X. insigne is sustained.