Brazilian researchers have discovered a new parasitic leaf nematode, Monteironemy caresi.

A team of Brazilian nematologists has discovered a new genus and species of leaf nematode, Monteironema caresi. The nematode parasitizes plants. This is reported by agropages.com. Unlike many anguinids that provoke the formation of galls or plant deformation, the newly described species causes leaf spots—a type of symptom that is less common among nematodes of this group but is of significant interest for ecological and phytopathogenic research. The nematode belongs to the genus Ipomoea. Adult M. caresi individuals range from 0.4 to 0.9 mm in size and occur in three different forms: females, immature females, and males. They have a fusiform body, a finely striated cuticle, and a short, robust stylet—a structure used for penetrating plant tissues. The digestive and reproductive systems have unique characteristic combinations, reinforcing their distinction from other genera of the Anguinidae family. The discovery began when Professor Robert Waingart Barreto found Ipomoea plants ...