3 NEW SPECIES OF NEMATODES ASSOCIATED WITH ENDEMIC GRAPE (VITIS) IN CALIFORNIA

Three new species of nematodes were encountered during a study of natu ral diversity of nematode associates of native species of Vitis L. in California. Achromadora walkeri sp. n. was found in rhizosoil of the n ative California grape Vitis californica Bentham and is characterized by the position of the amphid (within the vicinity of both dorsal and ventral teeth), a relatively long stoma, and the absence of a prerectu m. The other 2 species were plant parasitic criconematids: Criconemoid es featherensis sp. n., found in association with roots of V. californ ica, is characterized by possessing strongly retrose annuli posterior to the vulva, a long stylet, the shape of the first annulus of the hea d, and rare anastomosis of annuli of the body. Specimens of Hemicyclio phora armandae sp. n. were recovered from the rhizosoil of the desert grape Vitis girdiana Munson and are characterized by having 3 cephalic annuli, a lateral field marked by interruption of the striae, a long stylet, and a digitate tail. The study of symbiotic associations of na tive species of crop plants is important in studies of faunal and flor al biodiversity.