Thank you.

That is a Helicotylenchus spp

I regret that I cannot see a few key characters, but am confident that it is in the subfamily Hoplolaiminae, probably not a Helicotylenchus; Scutellonema seems possible. I have seen several hoplolaims on banana roots, but never considered them to be serious pests compared to the Radopholous similis and Pratylenchus coffeae that were known to be capable of serious injury.

Thanks. Yes eventhough they are inside banana roots the damage is not serious.

I offer a few words of background information about me. I was nematologist-entomologist for Dole Foods in their Costa Rica banana plantations in 1973-74, then Extension Nematologist at the Univ. of Florida from 1975-99. I have done little nematology since then, more entomology and general plant pathology, and am now mostly retired at 77 years old. Hence, my nematological experience was very broad, but is not current.

I wrote a mail to you. But it bounced back. Later, I found that you are retired. Do you have a known person deals with Nemato-taxonomy. I had a short training with Dr. Roy Neilson, Scotland. He is a vey nice person indeed.

This looks Helicotylenchus to me. If its in banana, it may be an H. multicinctus.

Yes the spiral nature gives impression of Helicotylenchus. But I have a problem of its tail terminus and the stylet. Thanks for your reply

The tail is characteristic of Helicotylenchus. It is short and curved dorsally. Are you comparing it with another Hoplolaimid?

Projection of the tail terminus? Cannot be seen?? Anyway I need good pictures showing the tail terminus. Thanks Rainer.

It belong to genus Helicotylenchus the spiral nematode. Body spiral shape. Lip region truncate, 4-5 indistinct annules. Cephalic framework well developed. Spear knobs with sloping anterior surface. Median oesophageal bulb oval to rounded with distinct valvular apparatus. Hemizonid anterior to excretory pore. Excretory pore 80-100 µm from anterior end and usually at the level of anterior end of oesophageal glands. Spermatheca offset, without sperm. Phasmid 4 annules anterior to the level of anus. Tail curved dorsally with hemispherical terminus.

Thanks.

Dammini

It is not Tylenchorhynchus but it seemed to be Helicotylenchus as the body shape is spiral, and well developed spear, however, the projection in the tail terminal is not obvious.

Other genera of family Hoplaimidae are called spiral nematode viz. Rotylenchus and Scutellonema,

Thanks