Analyses of morphological and molecular characteristics of Telotylenchinae from Iran point at the validity of the genera Bitylenchus and Sauertylenchus Author Azizi, Kourosh Department of Plant Protection, Lorestan University, 68151 - 44316, Khoramabad, Iran. Author Eskandari, Ali Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, 45371 - 38791, Zanjan, Iran. Author Karegar, Akbar Department of Plant Protection, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, 71441 - 65186, Shiraz, Iran. Author Ghaderi, Reza Department of Plant Protection, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, 71441 - 65186, Shiraz, Iran. Author Elsen, Sven Van Den Laboratory of Nematology, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands Author Holterman, Martijn Laboratory of Nematology, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands Author Helder, Johannes Laboratory of Nematology, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands text Zootaxa 2022 2022-08-02 5169 5 425 446 journal article 111180 10.11646/zootaxa.5169.5.2 5242fa25-73f4-42a9-994a-82d182a594f7 1175-5326 6952625 59D58169-B5C4-4A80-A1AC-B0E69AFC0770 Sauertylenchus maximus ( Allen, 1955 ) Siddiqi, 2000 Syn: Bitylenchus maximus ( Allen, 1955 ) Siddiqi, 1986 Tylenchorhynchus maximus Allen, 1950 Tylenchorhynchus wilskii Kornobis, 1980 ( Brzeski, 1998 ) Bitylenchus wilskii (Kornobis, 1980) Jairajpuri, 1982 Bitylenchus wilskii (Kornobis, 1980) Siddiqi, 1986 ( Figure 4 , Table 3 ) Description Female Body curved ventrally to C-shaped after heat fixation. Cuticle with distinct annuli, 1.5–2.3 μm wide at midbody. Lateral field with four longitudinal incisures, outer bands areolated. Lip region offset, hemispherical, 8.0– 9.0 μm wide at base, 4.0–5.0 μm high, and bearing six or seven distinct transverse annuli. Cephalic framework lightly sclerotized, outer margins extending over two or three body annuli. Stylet moderately strong, knobs rounded, slightly directed posteriorly; the conus almost half of the total stylet length. Dorsal pharyngeal gland orifice located 2.0–2.1 μm behind stylet knobs. Median pharyngeal bulb oval, 12–13 μm wide; basal bulb pyriform, abutting anterior intestine. Reproductive system didelphic, amphidelphic, spermatheca elongated, empty. Vagina 10 μm long, 40–60% of the vulval body diameter. Intestinal fasciculi present throughout intestine and inside post rectal sac which enters into about two-thirds of the tail length. Tail cylindrical with a hemispherical, annulated terminus, bearing 33–40 annuli on ventral side. Hyaline portion thickness 6–7 μm. Phasmids located 16–17 μm posterior to anus, in the anterior half of the tail. Male Not found. FIG. 4. Photomicrographs of Sauertylenchus maximus . Females (A–O). A: Pharynx; B–E: Head and stylet; F: Terminal bulb; G &H: Lateral field; I: Vulva; J: Entire body; K–O: Tail. (Scale bars: A = 20 μm; J = 100 μm; B–I & K–O = 10 μm); [a = anus]. Remarks Compared to the original description of S. maximus by Allen (1955) , the Iranian populations differ by the absence of males. The Iranian populations of S. maximus were recovered from Semnan , Ardabil and West Azerbaijan provinces in the rhizosphere of peach ( Prunus persica ), grass, hawthorn ( Crataegus aronia ) and apple ( Malus pumila ), respectively.