Exploring the Mechanism of Nematodes Causing Plant Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are serious pests in the horticultural and agricultural industry and have been known to cause billions of dollars worth of damages, accounting for great economic loss worldwide. Over 4100 species of PPNs have been described to date, representing an important constraint on global food security. With the presence of nematodes, farmers or growers face huge challenges to maintain a normal economic threshold level and do this by using crop protection products (CPP), thus optimizing their crop yields to feed the world’s growing population. A CPP of biological origin is more common for sustainable agriculture. Nematode diseases are difficult to control because their symptoms could be largely inapparent; hence, they are often overlooked. This Special Issue focuses on exploring the mechanisms of nematodes causing plant diseases. For the successful implementation of nematode control and management practices, it is vital to understand nematode plant diseases. PPN are known to feed on different plant parts causing direct damages (the formation of knot, galls, cyst, lesions and many more) or indirect damages. PPN go through critical transitions to cause damage, such as host attraction and invasion, migration inside the host, the initiation and expansion of permanent feeding structures and, finally, the maintenance of transfer cell–like functions. This issue will include interdisciplinary studies focusing on plant-parasitic nematodes, with topics such as nematode identification, nematode biology, nematode life cycle and plant–nematode interactions (molecular plant nematology). Research articles will cover a broad range of nematodes from specialty crops, including root knot (Meloidogyne spp.); cyst (Heterodera and Globodera spp.); root lesion (Pratylenchus spp.); spiral (Helicotylenchus spp.); burrowing (Radopholus similis); bulb and stem (Ditylenchus dipsaci); reniform (Rotylenchulus reniformis); dagger (Xiphinema spp.); bud and leaf (Aphelenchoides spp.); and pine wilt disease (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus). All types of articles, such as original research, opinion pieces, and reviews are welcome.

Dr. Richard Raj Singh
Guest Editor

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• plant-parasitic nematodes
• diseases
• nematode biology
• plant–nematode interactions
• nematode control
• crops