Plant parasitic nematodes: Insights into the parasitic potential, adaptations and their interaction with other microorganisms

Abstract

Plant parasitic nematodes are major pests of the agricultural industry in developing countries. This group is associated with different parts viz., flower, leaves, buds, roots, trunk etc., of approximately all crucial crops of agronomy due to their omnipresent nature. They are categorized as endo, ecto and semi-endoparasite based on the feeding habits. PPNs possess remarkable characteristics especially, parasitic adaptations which help in combating adverse conditions. Furthermore, they interact with other microorganisms (pathogens) forming complex diseases in crops. For effective management of the PPNs through biological control, it is essential to understand their parasitic mechanism, adaptation of J2 stages, feeding mechanism, host-nematode relationship and identification of associated microbiota. This review focuses on the basic biology of PPN, feeding habits, parasitic potential, molecular insights for understanding host-nematode relationship and their management by exploiting the inherent abilities of biocontrol agents.