Comparative morphometrics, molecular characterization, and dynamic population of Zeldia punctata associated with mustard crops from India

A survey was conducted in the agricultural fields of mustard of Haridwar district, Uttarakhand, India, where a heavy population of Zeldia was recovered. The morphological, molecular, and phylogenetic characterization confirmed the nematode as Zeldia punctata. The phylogenetic analysis based on 18 and 28S rDNA placed the studied population of Z. punctata close to other populations of the same species. The principal component analysis (PCA) data revealed the high intraspecific and interspecific variations between the populations of Zeldia punctata from different geographical regions. The result indicated a variation between the Indian populations of Z. punctata. Additionally, the selected ecological factors indicated an impact of EC, temperature, and phosphorus on Z. punctata during the flowering and podding time of mustard crops in India. However, the PCA revealed no effect of ecological factors on the nematode diversity indices. In conclusion, Z. punctata, with its high individual numbers on mustard, may affect crop production due to activating the bacterial community of the soil and less space for plant-parasitic nematodes.