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Description of Filenchus Species from Agroecosystem of Southern Alberta, Canada

Understanding the existing nematode biodiversity is of significant concern because nematodes may divert nutrients from plants and use them for their own development and reproduction. The presence and diagnostics of Filenchus species occurring in southern Alberta have not been addressed in previous studies. Herein, we provide a comprehensive characterization of adult females of four known Filenchus species (F. cylindricus, F. hazenensis, F. sheri, and F. thornei) recovered from cultivated fields in southern Alberta. Three of the species are new records in Canada, while one is a native species that was previously described from the Canadian high arctic area. These organisms are mild parasitic species; we describe them here to enhance the visibility of soil nematodes and facilitate accurate species identification. The diagnostic resolution within Filenchus is low, because many species are described without adequate consideration of intra-specific variation. The species descriptions and molecular data obtained during the present study will reduce the confusion in examining the existing lineages among Filenchus species and will aid in improving phylogenetic resolution. Our results suggest that the known diversity of Canadian nemato-fauna has increased. However, more research is needed to further identify other genera and species of phytoparasitic nematodes that may occur in grasses, weeds, and wild plants present in cultivated areas. Moreover, the molecular characterization of these species from Canada, in comparison to a reference dataset (NCBI) of Tylenchidae nematodes, provides insight into the biogeography of nematodes.