The name of this species has changed many times. Synonyms: Xenocriconemella (De Grisse and Loof, 1965), Mesocriconema (Andrassy, 1965), Madinema (Khan, Chawla and Saha, 1976), Seshadriella (Darekar and Khan, 1981), Neobakernema (Ebsary, 1981), Crossonemoides (Eroshenko, 1981), Criconemoides (Taylor, 1936), Macroposthonia (de Man, 1921). Criconemoides xenoplax Raski, 1952, Criconemoides nainitalense Edward & Misra, 1963 , Macroposthonia nainitalensis (Edward & Misra, 1963) De Grisse & Loof, 1965, Criconema pruni Siddiqi, 1961, Macroposthonia pruni (Siddiqi, 1961) De Grisse & Loof, 1965, Mesocriconema pruni (Siddiqi, 1961) Andrassy, 1965, Criconemoides pruni (Siddiqi, 1961) Raski & Golden, 1966.
Wide host range. Generally woody plants. All Prunus species, including peach, almond, apricot, cherry, and plum; also lettuce, grape, carnation, and pine.
North and South America, Europe, Africa, India, Australia, and Japan.
Migratory ectoparasite on root tips or along more mature roots. Female produces 3-5 eggs per day. First molt occurs inside the egg; egg matures in about 10-12 days at 20-22 C. All stages feed; life cycle is complete in 24-30 days.
Nematode feeding has root-pruning effect on plants; results in reduction of feeder roots, reduction in ability to withstand stress, reduced nutrient uptake of N,P,K in Myrobalan and Marianna plum. It has been suggested that resulting change in C:N ratio in the plant may affect susceptibility to both bacterial canker by Pseudomonas syringae, pv syrinage, and winter kill; e.g., peach-tree short life. Symptoms of bacterial canker include death of shoots and limbs; vascular discoloration, gummosis, "sour sap," and reduced flower production.
Preplant nematicides.
Bacterial canker and peach decline are common and severe in the Central Valley of California and the southeastern U.S.
Criconemella - There is strong sexual dimorphism. Females are small, stout, nematodes under 1 mm long; the body annulation is very coarse and strong; the annulations vary considerably in their cuticular ornamentation and sometimes they partially overlap each other; the posterior margin of each annule may be plain to crenate or even with overlapping fringes, spines or plates. The lateral field is absent apart from sometimes an irregular line formed by anastomosing annules. The lip region shape is variable and sometimes there are four extra submedial lobes. The head skeleton is strong and the mouth stylet very large and robust, 50-100 um long, with the anterior cone much longer than the shaft; the basal knobs are well developed with anterior projections giving the stylet base an anchor-shape. The esophageal procorpus and median bulb are combined; there is a short narrow isthmus and a weak, rounded, glandular terminal bulb. The vulva is well posterior (V = 80-90) with a single anterior gonad and the tail is short, blunt to conical. The degenerate males are much thinner than the females, the stylet is lacking and the esophagus rudimentary, body annulation is fine with two to four lines in the lateral field; spicules are slender and ventrally curved, a weak bursa sometimes present. Juveniles, although smaller, are somewhat similar to females but the cuticular ornamentation is usually more elaborate with longitudinal rows of scales or spines.