Integrated Management and Biocontrol of Vegetable and Grain Crops Nematodes

This series originated during a visit of prof. Mukerji to the Plant Protection Institute of CNR at Bari, Italy, in November 2005. Both editors agreed to produce a series of five volumes focusing, in a multi-disciplinary approach, on recent advances and achievements in the practice of crop protection. This Volume deals with nematodes parasitic on plants. Nematodes inhabit the earth since almost half a billion years and will probably remain for an even longer time in the future. They represent a very successful, diversified and specialised animal group, present in all ecological niches in nature. Only a small fraction of species is actually described and, among them, only a reduced number is known to feed on plants. Among them, however, a few species exert an heavy economic impact on crops, representing a severe limiting factor for agricultural productions. This statement explains the attention devoted in last decades to plant parasitic nematodes, and the efforts deployed for their control. As for other disciplines concerning plant protection, nematology is now in a mature stage in which the optimism initially underlining the widespread use of chemicals and fumigants lent space to a more pragmatic, comprehensive and integrated vision of control.

The second volume of the IMPD series describes aspects related to most important phytoparasitic nematodes, considering the integration of biological control methods with other management practices and technologies, including the use of predatory nematodes and microbial rhizosphere antagonists. Chapters cover topics like the mode of action and interactions of nematophagous fungi, the efficacy of controll and management of plant parasitic nematode communities through a soil conservation approach, and exploitation of nematodes-bacteria antagonistic relationships. A focus is given on regional issues, like the management of nematodes parasitizing staple crops, i.e. andean tubers or some important grain crops, like soybean in North and South America or cereals. A review on nematode management in cotton is integrated by a chapter on management of nematodes on wheat. New technologies are also revised, including the potentials of control methods based on RNA interference and issues related to the use of biofumigation to control nematodes in different regional or crop contexts.