An Introduction to Nematodes : Plant Nematology

Plant-parasitic nematodes cause an annual global crop yield loss of 10 to 20 percent, but such losses are unevenly distributed between crops and locations.

In many instances intensive cultivation is sustainable only through application of highly toxic chemicals to control nematode pests, and in low economy countries farmers can experience total crop yield loss.

The use of such chemicals, and slash and burn farming practice to move production from infested to "clean" land, has major societal and environmental implications.

In a series of 11 illustrated lectures the reader is introduced to the economically most important diseases caused by plant-parasitic nematodes, how nematodes parasitise different plant tissues, morphology and structure, reproduction, bio-ecology and the various methods that can be used to control these nematodes.

The final lecture provides a simple taxonomy and identification of the various groups of plant-parasite nematodes.