Histopathology and integrative diagnosis of the fig cyst nematode Heterodera fici associated to Ficus carica L trees inSouthern Italy. Molecular identification of Heterodera fici

Morpho-biological notes and histopathology, based on LM and SEM observations, of the fig cyst nematode (FIGCN) Heterodera fici isolated from Ficus carica roots, collected in home and public gardens of Apulian region, Southern Italy, are described and illustrated. 75 localities throughout the Apulian region were sampled and in one-fourth of the sampled localities was detected H. fici in fig roots with population densities ranging from 44 to 180 cycts/100 ml of soil. All sampling attempts to detect H. fici on ornamental ficus spp as well on imported bonsai in Italy were totally unsuccessful. Morphometric characters of the Italian population were conform to those of type and re-description populations reported for H. fici. Molecular analysis by using ITS, D2-D3 expansion domains of the 28S rRNA and the partial 18S rRNA sequences of H. fici from Italy, newly obtained in this study, matched well with the corresponding sequences of H. fici present in the database. Phylogenetic trees confirmed and supported the grouping of H. fici in the Humuli group.