| Summary: | Pin nematodes (<i>Paratylenchus</i> spp.) are polyphagous parasitic species with a wide host range and geographical distribution; their diversity is unknown in the potato growing region of Alberta, Canada. The present study aims to provide morphological and molecular characterization of three pin nematode species, namely <i>P. neoprojectus</i>, <i>P. tateae</i>, and a new species, <i>Paratylenchus enigmaticus</i> sp. nov. All of them were recovered from the potato growing region of southern Alberta. The nematodes were isolated using the sieving and flotation-centrifugation method, and their morphology was assessed by light microscopy. Molecular characterization was performed using partial 18S, D2–D3 expansion domains of the 28S and ITS ribosomal genes. This study is the first report of molecular characterization of <i>P. tateae</i> and <i>P. neoprojectus</i>, being new records from southern Alberta, and two Spanish populations of <i>P. tateae</i> comprising the first report of this species in Europe. The phylogenetic analysis of the 18S, D2–D3 expansion domains of the 28S and ITS ribosomal DNA regions underscores the importance of using molecular data for accurate species identification and clarifies the status of <i>P. nanus</i> type B and <i>P. sheri</i>. Moreover, our findings will be useful to determine the impact of pin nematodes on potato production in future field research.
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