LAUSR

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and distribution of Paratylenchus species in the main areas of Prunus spp. production in Spain, their ecological constraints and new molecular tools for the specific identification of major species. Pin nematodes are recognized as plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) with a wide host range and global distribution. Therefore, understanding the environmental and agronomic factors involved in their distribution is critical to design environmental and sustainable management strategies to reduce plant damage. A total of 219 sampling sites were surveyed and twelve Paratylenchus species were identified based on integrative taxonomic approach (P. baldaccii, P. enigmaticus, P. goodeyi, P. hamatus, P. holdemani, P. indalus, P. israelensis, P. pedrami, P. tateae, P. tenuicaudatus, P. veruculatus, and P. zurgenerus). The most common pin nematode was P. hamatus, followed by P. tenuicaudatus. Nematode abundance was influenced by climatic characteristics, soil chemical properties and agronomic management practices. Nine explanatory variables were selected as the most strongly associated with Paratylenchus distribution. Specifically, P. tenuicaudatus was significantly correlated with soil chemical characteristics, such as, pH, carbon, sulphur and sodium content. Whereas P. goodeyi was closely related to fields with less than 10 years of almond cultivation. Species-specific PCRs were developed for P. hamatus and P. tenuicaudatus and their validity was evaluated studying the molecular variability of these species and against other Paratylenchus species.