Phylogenetic position of Ptychaphelenchus eucalypticola Hodda, 2009 within the Aphelenchoidoidea Skarbilovich, 1947 (Siddiqi, 1980) inferred from partial 18S and 28S rDNA gene sequences

Summary At the time of description, morphology Ptychaphelenchus eucalypticola Hodda, 2009 indicated it could be assigned to either Aphelenchoididae Skarbilovich, 1947 (Paramonov, 1953) or Parasitaphelenchidae Ruehm, 1956 (Siddiqi, 1980) within Aphelenchoidoidea 1980). Although P. was, tentatively, and remains Aphelenchoididae, its relationships with other aphelenchoids have not been reassessed, no molecular data were previously available for this species. We re-collected from type host locality, Eucalyptus macrorhyncha F. Muell. ex Benth., Mount Ainslie, ACT, Australia. performed Bayesian inference maximum likelihood analyses a concatenated 18S + 28S rDNA gene sequence dataset determine position Aphelenchoidoidea, followed by single-gene further assess between species an expanded set close relatives. All is correctly in clade comprising all Ficophagus Davies & Bartholomaeus, 2015 some presently Aphelenchoides Fisher, 1894, sister Martininema additional . Our did resolve relative ; however, our relationship This plausible as former shares many characteristics latter genus; there are sufficient morphological differences consider representative distinct lineage Aphelenchoidoidea.