Anguina agrostis
Anguina agrostis (Bentgrass nematode, seed-gall nematode) is a plant pathogenic nematode. History and significance Anguina agrostis was one of the first plant parasitic nematodes to be taxonomically described by J.G. Steinbuch in 1799. While on a “botanical walk”, Steinbuch collected samples from a grass that resembled Agrostis silvatica. He examined the samples and discovered that the grass was not A. silvatica but was rather a degenerate form of Agrostis capillaris; he further discovered that A. silvatica is not a true species (or variety) but that the misclassification of the grass was due to the formation of galls by A. agrostis parasitism. Galls caused by A. agrostis have glumes that are 4-5 times longer than normal and can cause yield losses of up to 40-70%. In addition to crop loss, A. agrostis associates with pathogenic bacteria Rathayibacter rathayi (formerly Corynebacterium rathayi) to cause annual ryegrass toxicity in Australia. Hosts and distribution A. agrostis infects bentgrasses within the genus Agrostis as well as annual and perennial ryegrasses (Lolium spp.). The nematode can also infect 14 other genera of grasses. A. agrostis has been found in Australia, New Zealand, Western Europe, former USSR, Canada, and the United States. Morphology The lip region is