Current investigations provide a comprehensive understanding of the occurrence and biodiversity of plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) in the major citrusproducing regions of Jeju Island, South Korea. Our survey identified five genera and five species of PPNs from 82 infested Citrus unshiu field samples collected across 116 sites in the Jeju provinces. Community analysis revealed the highest prevalence of PPNs (39.02%) at Namwon-eup, significantly driven by Tylenchulus semipenetrans, followed by Paratylenchus sp., Helicotylenchus sp., Meloidogyne sp., and Pratylenchus sp. Data indicate that all 82 sites were infested with T. semipenetrans (70.68%), marking a considerable increase in prevalence compared to previous surveys and posing a significant threat to citrus cultivation. The study results also demonstrate the influence of soil type on PPNs communities, revealing correlations between soil texture and nematode diversity. Citrus orchards cultivated in black clay loam soil exhibited significant PPN infestations. Overall, the PPN survey underscores the economic importance of monitoring citrus nematode infection rates and maintaining economic threshold levels in citrus production. It also emphasizes the need for developing effective management strategies to control PPNs, which are essential for maintaining crop yield and ensuring agricultural sustainability.

A study of intertidal habitats on Jejudo Island, Korea led to the identification of two new species, Desmoscolex (Desmoscolex) jejuensis sp. nov. and Desmoscolex (Desmoscolex) longispiculatus sp. nov., belonging to the subgenus Desmoscolex. Desmoscolex (D.) jejuensis sp. nov. is distinguished by the presence of 18 main rings, with males missing the 8th, 10th, and 14th subventral setae with the 2nd and 15th setae shifted laterally. In females, the 6th, 8th, 10th, and 14th subventral setae are absent. Conversely, D. (D.) longispiculatus sp. nov. exhibits 17 main rings with a typical somatic setae arrangement along with notably elongated spicules and the 14th and 15th subventral setae shifted laterally or slightly subdorsally. Both species are characterized by relatively long and slender cephalic setae. Detailed illustrations and high-magnification micrographs were produced using differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to facilitate morphological comparisons between these new species and related taxa. Furthermore, a comparative trait table and a pictorial key are provided to clearly differentiate these new species from morphologically similar taxa. These findings contribute to the understanding of nematode biodiversity and contribute to the broader knowledge of Desmoscolex diversity in Korean coastal ecosystems.

Two new free-living marine nematodes of the genus Belbolla Andrássy, 1973 belonging to family Enchelidiidae are newly described based on specimens obtained from a shallow subtidal sediment of the western and southern outermost islands of Korea. Belbolla koreensis sp. nov. differs from other species of the genus by the combination of the following characteristics: longer body length (3,080-3,462 μm long), eight oesophageal bulbs in the posterior region of pharynx, well-developed two winged precloacal supplements (anterior precloacal supplement slightly longer than posterior one: 47-59 μm vs. 43-46 μm long), strongly arcuated, very thick, L - shaped spicule (122- 127 μm long, 1.7-1.9 anal body diameter (a.b.d.) long) with three separated blunt distal tips, and well-developed relatively long cylindrical shaped gubernacular apophysis with blunt teeth covering two thirds of the dorsal margin (57-58 μm long, 0.8-0.9 a.b.d. long). Belbolla hoonsooi sp. nov. is characterized by the following combination of characteristics: longer body length (3,494 μm long), eight oesophageal bulbs in the posterior region of pharynx, well-developed two winged precloacal supplements (anterior precloacal supplement slightly longer than posterior one: 43 μm vs. 36 μm long), strongly arcuated, L - shaped spicule (119 μm long, 1.5 a.b.d. long) with three separated blunt distal tip, and well-developed relatively long inverted triangle shaped gubernacular apophysis with blunt teeth covering half of the dorsal margin (45 μm long, 0.6 a.b.d. long). Detailed morphological characteristics and illustrations of two new Belbolla nematodes from the Korean seawaters were provided by differential interference contrast microscopy. Comparative tables on biogeographical and morphological characteristics of Belbolla species are also provided herein.

국내 들깨 재배지의 식물기생선충 감염현황을 조사하기 위해 2020년 1월 21일부터 10월 27일까지 8개 시군의 노지, 시설 들깨 재배지에서 채취한 토양 시료 51점을 분석하였다. 들깨 재배지에는 뿌리썩이선충류, 나선선충류, 뿌리혹선충, 위축 선충이 감염되어 있었으며, 뿌리썩이선충 (39%)과 나선선충 (55%)이 다른 선충에 비해 높은 감염률을 보였다. 들깨는 연작연수가 증가할수록 뿌리썩이 선충의 발생 빈도는 증가하는 추세를 보였으며, 11년 이상 연작하면 5년 미만일 때보다 발생 빈도가 2배 이상 증가하였다. 잎들깨와 종실용 들깨 재배지에 감염된 선충 종류와 밀도는 차이를 보였다. 들깨 검출 선충 가운데 경제적으로 중요한 뿌리썩이선충의 분자생물학적 종 동정 결과, 2속 3종 (Pratylenchus penetrans, P. vulnus, Pratylenchoides leiocauda)의 뿌리썩이선충이 감염되어 있는 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구 결과에 따라, 들깨 밭의 선충 관리 전략 수립 을 위해서는 뿌리썩이선충이 문제 선충이라는 점이 고려 되어야 할 것이다.

Spodoptera litura Fabricius is the serious, polyphagous pest of various crops. Due to the high resistant to most of chemical pesticides, it is hard to control S. litura in the fields. We investigated the virulence of four entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) in each larval stage. All EPNs were more effective to younger larvae than older larvae. Mortality, larval penetration rate and reproduction rate were significantly higher in H. indica, S. carpocapsae and S. longicaudum than the H. bacteriophora. Three high effective EPNs induced complete mortality of first instar larvae within 48 h, but of fifth instar larvae within 72 h. These EPNs also highly effective to control S. litura in pot assay. Thus, H. indica, S. carpocapsae and S. longicaudum, can be used as efficient biological control agents of S. litura.