__NOTOC__ ''Bursaphelenchus'' is a genus of nematodes (roundworms) in the order (biology), order Aphelenchida. Most are obligate mycophages, but some feed on wood, with two species, the Bursaphelenchus cocophilus, red ring nematode (''B. cocophilus'') and the Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, pine wood nematode (''B. xylophilus''), economically significant as pest (organism), pests of Coconut, coconut palms and of pine, pine trees, respectively. Given that ''Bursaphelenchus'' species are usually hard to distinguish from one another except by trained nematology, nematologists with access to microscopes or DNA sequence analysis, the entire genus is put under quarantine in some countries. Where this is not the case however, these nematodes are becoming established as model organisms for nematode developmental biology, ecology and genetics. As of 2009, there are about 70 to 90 species in the genus. New taxa are described frequently.

Ecology

''Bursaphelenchus'' contains a single described hermaphroditic species, ''okinawaensis'', and over 100 described gonochoristic species. They inhabit soil or decaying wood, feeding on the wood itself or fungus, fungal hyphae growing in it, such as those of Botrytis cinerea, grey mould (''Botrytis cinerea''). They are sometimes beneficial when they reduce the fungal load inside the wood, but when they consume the plant tissue they are known to cause the death of living trees. These nematodes are phoretic, dispersed between trees when their dauer larvae are transported by insects. Species involved include bark beetles, weevils, Lamiinae, flat-faced longhorn beetles such as Monochamus, sawyer beetles, and soil-nesting bees. The process of dauer larva formation is not well understood, but it is of research interest because it is significant in the epidemics of plant diseases caused by these nematodes, such as pine wilt.

Selected species

''Bursaphelenchus'' includes: * ''Bursaphelenchus abietinus'' Braasch & Schmutzenhofer, 2000 * ''Bursaphelenchus abruptus'' * ''Bursaphelenchus africanus'' Braasch, et al., 2007 * ''Bursaphelenchus anatolius'' * ''Bursaphelenchus antoniae'' * ''Bursaphelenchus arthuri'' * ''Bursaphelenchus borealis'' * ''Bursaphelenchus chitwoodi'' * ''Bursaphelenchus clavicauda'' * ''Bursaphelenchus cocophilus'' – red ring nematode * ''Bursaphelenchus conicaudatus'' * ''Bursaphelenchus doui'' * ''Bursaphelenchus eggersi'' * ''Bursaphelenchus eremus'' * ''Bursaphelenchus fraudulentus'' * ''Bursaphelenchus fungivorus'' Franklin & Hooper, 1962 * ''Bursaphelenchus gerberae'' * ''Bursaphelenchus hellenicus'' Skarmoutsos, Braasch & Michalopoulou, 1998 * ''Bursaphelenchus hildegardae'' * ''Bursaphelenchus hofmanni'' Braasch, 1998 * ''Bursaphelenchus hunti'' * ''Bursaphelenchus hylobianum'' * ''Bursaphelenchus kevini'' * ''Bursaphelenchus mucronatus'' * ''Bursaphelenchus okinawaensis'' Kanzaki, et al., 2008 * ''Bursaphelenchus paracorneolus'' * ''Bursaphelenchus parvispicularis'' * ''Bursaphelenchus pinasteri'' * ''Bursaphelenchus piniperdae'' Fuchs, 1937 * ''Bursaphelenchus platzeri'' * ''Bursaphelenchus poligraphi'' * ''Bursaphelenchus rainulfi'' * ''Bursaphelenchus sachsi'' * ''Bursaphelenchus seani'' Giblin & Kaya, 1983 * ''Bursaphelenchus sexdentati'' Rühm, 1960 * ''Bursaphelenchus sinensis'' * ''Bursaphelenchus singaporensis'' * ''Bursaphelenchus thailandae'' * ''Bursaphelenchus tusciae'' * ''Bursaphelenchus vallesianus'' * ''Bursaphelenchus xylophilus'' – pine wood nematode, pine wilt nematode * ''Bursaphelenchus yongensis''

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q3719194 Aphelenchida