Trichodoridae is a family of terrestrial root feeding nematodes, being one of two that constitute suborderTriplonchida. They are economically important plant parasites and virus vectors.
Taxonomy
The first trichodorid was described in 1880 as Dorylaimus primitivus, and the type genus, Trichodorus described in 1913 by Cobb, based on Trichodorus obtusus.
Subdivision
Historically, up to 1973, Trichodorus was the only genus in this family. Originally it was the only genus in a subfamily, the Trichodorinae Thorne 1935, within the family Diphtherophoridae, to distinguish it from the other subfamily, Diphtherophorinae. However Diphtherophoridae was elevated to superfamily rank, and the subfamily Trichodorinae became a full-fledged family. The genus Trichodorus was split into two genera in 1974 by Siddiqi, Trichodorus and Paratrichodorus. This was based on the position of the gland nuclei and the type of pharyngo-intestinal junction. Siddiqi also used these criteria to divide Paratrichodirus into three subgenera, Paratrichodorus, Atlantadorus and Nanidorus. Rodriguez-Montessorosoon proposed further separating these genera into two subfamilies, resurrecting the name Trichodorinae. With Siddiqi's subgenera not accepted by all authorities, his elevation of these subgenera to genus level in 1980 was followed by even fewer, but now is finding supports in molecular systematics.
Phylogenetics
In the case of Nanidorus, phylogenetic analysis has supported its recognition as a separate genus, although clustering with Trichodorus rather than its parent Paratrichodorus.
Genera
There were few species recognised before the economic importance of the family was recognised, and in 1957 there were only 12, but this increased rapidly. In addition further genera than the original Trichodorus and Paratrichodorus were created in the 1970s, and another genus in 2002. There are now about 100 species divided into five to six genera. Duarte et al. list 102 species.
Allotrichodorus Rodriguez-M, Sher and Siddiqi, 1978
Ecuadorus Siddiqi, 2002
Monotrichodorus Andrassy, 1976
Nanidorus Siddiqi, 1974
Paratrichodorus Siddiqi, 1974
Trichodorus Cobb, 1913
The two largest genera have didelphic females, and are distributed worldwide. In the contrast the three small genera, have females that are monodelphic-prodelphic and are native to Central America and the northern part of South America.
Etymology
Trichodoridae comes from the Greek trichos and dory. The name "stubby-root" comes from the effect of the nematodes on the root system which appears "stubby" or stunted.
The family only became of interest in 1951. At that time Trichodorus christie was recognised as a pest of crops in Florida. In 1961 it was discovered that they were also virus vectors, though this seems to be mainly the didelphic genera.
Books
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Articles
De Ley, P & Blaxter, M 2004, 'A new system for Nematoda: combiningmorphological characters with molecular trees, and translating clades into ranks and taxa'. in R Cook & DJ Hunt, Nematology Monographs and Perspectives. vol. 2, E.J. Brill, Leiden, pp. 633–653.
