On Anguillulina oryzae (v. Breda de Haan, 1902) Goodey, 1932, a nematode parasite of the roots of Rice, Oryza sativa L.

The identity and status of the nematode described by van Breda de Haan (1902) from the roots of diseased rice plants in the Dutch East Indies under the name of Tylenchus oryzae have remained more or less conjectural owing to the inadequacy of the original description and the absence of any drawings showing its appearance and structure. The present writer was so doubtful of its validity as a species that in his monograph on the genus Anguillulina (1932) he listed it under “species inquirendae.” In April 1934, Dr. J. van der Vecht of the Institute of Plant Diseases, Buitenzorg, Java, visited this Institute and in the course of conversation informed the writer that in his opinion the species was a valid and distinct one. He kindly promised that on his return to Buitenzorg he would collect specimens of the parasite and forward them for examination. In due course a good number of adult specimens, preserved in 5% formalin, were received and on these it has been possible to base the observations embodied in the following pages. The writer desires to express his thanks to Dr. P. van der Goot, Director of the Institute of Plant Diseases, Buitenzorg and to Dr. van der Vecht for their kindness in making this interesting material available for investigation.