گزارش نماتد Subanguina picridis بر روی علف هرز Centaurea sp. از استان آذربایجان شرقی

The nematode species Subanguina picridis causes galls on stems and leaves of several weeds. It has been isolated and reported from stem and leaf galls of Russian knapweed) Acroptilon repens) and diffuse knapweed) Centaurea diffusa (and according to available information, this nematode has been reported in Iran in association with almond trees in South Khorasan and the weed Serratula latifolia in Razavi Khorasan provinces. During a survey in a region around the city of Marand, East Azarbaijan province, a species of a weed, Centaurea sp., with numerous galls on the leaf and stem was observed and collected. The galls on leaves and stems were examined in the laboratory and males, females, different stages of juveniles and eggs of the nematode were isolated from the galls. Using permanent slides of killed and fixed nematodes with common methods, as well as temporary slides of live nematodes, the nematode was identified as Subanguina picridis according to available literature and identification keys. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of this nematode in East Azerbaijan province and city of Marand. In addition, the present host plant does not belong to either of previously reported host plants of the nematode and could represent a new host. As Subanguina picridis has the potential of controlling of weeds and some formulations to control Acroptilon repens have already been developed and tested in laboratory scales and as the result, the detailed studies of the nematode and its host plant is important.