Taxonomic studies on criconematoidea (Nematoda: Tylenchida) associated with fruit crops from north and north-eastern region of India. I. description of seven new species*

Three new species of Lobocriconema and two new species of Hemicycliophora found around the rhizosphere of fruit crops from North and North-Eastern regions of India are described and illustrated. Lobocriconema rishikensis n.sp. has 39–45 body annules; head with two annules and distinct fold in lateral area with distinct breaking of annules having frilled wavy margins, last two bocly annulcs with 2–3 spines. L. bhowaliensis n.sp. has 36–42 body annules; head with single anteriorly directed annule; bocly cuticle with trough shaped structures bearing serrations arranged in 10 longitudinal rows. L. sherpai n.sp. has 35–10 body annules, single anteriorly directed, saucered head annule with serrated margins forming protuberances in last 13 annules; vulva located at 2–3 body annules from tail terminus. Hemicycliophora planiannulatum n.sp. is characterized by having small body with actpressed sheath, two head annules and vulva modified into lip-like structure comprising 1–2 annules only. H. bilineatus n.sp. is distinctive in having a moderate body size and high number of annules (350–400), two distinct lines in the lateral field forming a single row of block; vulva opening outside cuticularized tube comprising of modified 10–12 annules.