Plant-Parasitic Nematodes in Horticultural Plants

Dear Colleagues,

Approximately 4100 species of all known nematodes are plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) that affect the quality and the quantity of numerous agricultural crops, representing a significant constraint on global food security. When PPNs attack their host, they disrupt its development, which leads to underdeveloped plants, causing a reduction in crop yield. Damage caused by these nematodes has been estimated at USD 80 billion/year. However, this value is likely to be underestimated, as PPNs are small-plant/soil-borne pathogens, and the symptoms that they cause are unspecific, and most of the cultivators are often unaware of their presence.

The top nematode threats in horticultural plants include Meloidogyne spp, Pratylenchus spp., Radopholus spp., Ditylenchus spp., and Tylenchulus spp. Nevertheless, many other important PPN genera affect horticultural crops, such as Heterodera, Globodera, Rotylenchus, Tylenchulus, Helicotylenchus, Xiphinema, etc.

Current approaches to control PPNs include the use of nematicides and/or unselective pesticides, but many of synthetic chemical nematicides pose serious concerns for human health and environment. To cope with such threat, accurate diagnostic methods for nematode detection and deep understanding about nematode infection processes and their intricate relationships with the host plants are crucial for the development of effective integrated nematode management programs.

This Special Issue aims to publish articles (original research manuscripts and reviews) that focus on the following:

• The diagnostics, detection, and surveillance of PPN;
• The improvement/optimisation of PPN identification and detection methods;
• The effect of abiotic factors on PPN survival and pathogenicity;
• The identification of risks for PPN dissemination;
• Knowledge on nematode–host interactions at the physiological and/or the molecular level;
• New sustainable and eco-friendly strategies for PPN management.

Dr. Carla Maleita
Dr. Ivânia Esteves
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• abiotic factors
• diagnosis
• eco-friendly strategies
• pathogenicity
• plant–nematode interaction