The root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne javanica, is one of the most damaging plant-parasitic nematodes, affecting chickpea and causing substantial yield losses worldwide. The damage potential and population dynamics of this nematode in chickpea in Ethiopia have yet to be investigated. In this study, six chickpea cultivars were tested using 12 ranges of initial population densities (Pi) of M. javanica second-stage juveniles (J2): 0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128 J2 (g dry soil)-1 in a controlled glasshouse pot experiment. The Seinhorst yield loss and population dynamics models were fitted to describe population development and the effect on different measured growth variables. The tolerance limit (TTFW) for total fresh weight ranged from 0.05 to 1.22 J2 (g dry soil)-1, with corresponding yield losses ranging from 31 to 64%. The minimum yield for seed weight (mSW) ranged from 0.29 to 0.61, with estimated yield losses of 71 and 39%. The 'Haberu' and 'Geletu' cultivars were considered good hosts, with maximum population densities (M) of 16.27 and 5.64 J2 (g dry soil)-1 and maximum multiplication rate (a) values of 6.25 and 9.23, respectively. All other cultivars are moderate hosts for M. javanica; therefore, it is crucial to initiate chickpea-breeding strategies to manage the tropical root-knot nematode M. javanica in Ethiopia.

Plant-parasitic nematodes pose a silent yet devastating threat to global agriculture, causing significant yield losses and economic damage. Traditional detection methods such as soil sampling, microscopy, and molecular diagnostics are slow, labor-intensive, and often ineffective in early-stage infestations. Nano biosensors: cuttingedge analytical tools that leverage nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes, graphene, and quantum dots to detect nematode-specific biochemical markers such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and oesophageal gland secretions, with unprecedented speed and accuracy. The real breakthrough lies in the fusion of artificial intelligence (AI) and nano-biosensor technology, forging a new frontier in precision agriculture. By integrating AI's powerful data analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive capabilities with the extraordinary sensitivity and specificity of nano-biosensors, it becomes possible to detect biomolecular changes in real-time, even at the earliest stages of disease progression. AI-driven nano biosensors can analyze real-time data, enhance detection precision, and provide actionable insights for farmers, enabling proactive and targeted pest management. This synergy revolutionizes nematode monitoring, paving the way for smarter, more sustainable agricultural practices. This review explores the transformative potential of AI-powered nano-biosensors in advancing precision agriculture. By integrating these technologies with smart farming systems, we move closer to real-time, costeffective, and field-deployable solutions, ushering in a new era of high-tech, eco-friendly crop protection.

Carrot (Daucus carota) is an important crop grown in Canada and globally. Fresh market carrots have strict cosmetic requirements to command full value at Grade A and are frequently downgraded for irregular shape, size, or pest damage. Organic farming presents challenges for nutrient management, soil health and pest control, which may be mitigated with cover cropping. A 3-year field experiment was conducted on a commercial organic farm to 1) test the effects of six preceding-year cover crop treatments compared to a weedy fallow control on carrot yield and quality, wireworm damage, reasons for downgrading, and populations of plant parasitic nematodes, and 2) characterize within-farm spatiotemperal variability in production to identify strategies to improve and stabilize economic return. Carrot yield (42-55 Mg ha-1), quality (39-92% Grade A) and market value (183-221 $1000 Canadian dollars ha-1) varied drastically across years, and blocks within years (<= 20% differences), but cover crops had no impact on these metrics. The dominant reasons for downgrading were morphological, affecting 7-74% of carrots each year and varying with cover crop only once, where carrots following buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) had fewer shape flaws. Nematodes had no relationship to cover crop or any carrot metric and wireworms damaged only 2% of carrots across all three years. This study found virtually no effect of cover crop species composition on next year's carrots on this farm, and that the farmer-collaborators can optimize their operation by improving crop establishment across space and time, reducing morphological flaws, and seeking higher value for downgraded produce.

Root-lesion nematodes, particularly Pratylenchus neglectus and P. crenatus (PNC), are widely distributed in New Zealand and cause significant damage to maize roots, reducing crop productivity. Despite their economic importance, no comprehensive assessment of commercial maize hybrids' resistance to PNC has been conducted in the country. Significant variation was observed in the nematode reproduction factor (Rf) and final population (Pf) among hybrids. In Experiment 1 (initial population (Pi) = 1250 PNC kg(-)(1) soil), Rf ranged from 3.1 in hybrid P8500 to 7.1 in hybrid P9127, with Pf values ranging from 3863 to 8903 PNC kg(-)(1) soil + roots in 45 days. In Experiment 2 (Pi = 750 PNC kg(-)(1) soil), Rf ranged from 18.4 in hybrid P1613 to 37.5 in hybrid P8805, with Pf values from 13,784 to 28,426 PNC kg(-)(1) soil + roots in 60 days. These results indicate active nematode reproduction and substantial hybrid-dependent variation in host response. Experiment 3 examined the impact of varying initial inoculum densities (500, 1000 and 1500 PNC kg(-)(1) soil), showing a dose-dependent increase in Pf and corresponding root damage. Susceptible hybrid (P9127) exhibited up to 42% root dry weight and 22% shoot dry weight reductions. This study is the first systematic evaluation of PNC resistance in New Zealand maize hybrids. It identifies P9127 and P8805 as highly susceptible, and P0891, P8500, and P1613 as moderately resistant. These findings offer valuable benchmarks for future breeding and support nematode management in New Zealand.

Reniform nematode (Rotylenchulus reniformis) is a damaging and difficult-to-manage pest on many agricultural crops. Sorghum and sorghum-sudangrass hybrids (SSgHs) have shown potential in managing plant-parasitic nematodes by releasing toxic hydrogen cyanide gas through the hydrolysis of dhurrin, a cyanogenic glucoside found in leaf epidermal cells. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of different SSgH varieties and their age on the suppression of R. reniformis and to quantify their dhurrin contents. Shoot biomass of seven SSgH varieties was harvested at 1, 2, and 3 months of growth and used as a soil amendment in two greenhouse cowpea bioassay trials. Dhurrin concentration was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography from 2-month-old tissues. The results indicated that energy sorghum 'NX-D-61' and SSgH 'Latte' exhibited the highest dhurrin concentrations (P <= 0.05) and suppressed R. reniformis development in cowpea roots (P <= 0.05). In Trial I, 2-month-old amendments showed the greatest suppression, whereas in Trial II, 1-month-old amendments were more suppressive (P <= 0.05). Potential effect of environmental stress on dhurrin concentration in SSgH tissue was discussed. Nonetheless, dhurrin concentrations were negatively related to the number of R. reniformis infecting cowpea roots (R2 = 0.69; P = 0.02). These findings suggest that high-dhurrin SSgH varieties can be integrated into reniform nematode management plans as a cover crop and terminated no more than 2 months after planting.

Crops produced using the practice of continuous cropping can become seriously damaged by plant-parasitic nematodes, an important indicator of continuous cropping obstacles. As a typical and important perennial economic crop, dragon fruit is prone to serious plant-parasitic nematode infestation; however, whether it encounters continuous cropping obstacles remains unclear. Here, we studied plant-parasitic nematodes (Meloidogyne spp. and Tylenchorhynchus sp.) in the soil and roots, soil nematode communities, metabolic footprint, soil integrated fertility, and the yield of intensively planted dragon fruit under non-continuous cropping (Y1) and 3 years (Y3) and 5 years (Y5) of continuous cropping, to determine potential continuous-cropping obstacles and factors that affect the yield of this fruit. The largest numbers of plant-parasitic nematodes in the soil and roots were observed in Y5; the associated yield was reduced, and the dragon fruit was severely stressed. Further analysis of the composition, diversity, and ecological function indices of soil nematodes showed that the soil ecological environment deteriorated after 3 years of continuous cropping, with Y5 having the worst results. Similarly, the soil at Y5 had a significant inhibitory effect on the growth and reproduction of Caenorhabditis elegans. Mantel test analysis and a random forest model showed that soil available phosphorus, soil exchange calcium, and soil nematode abundance and diversity were related significantly to yield. Partial least squares path modeling revealed that soil fertility and soil nematode diversity directly impacts the yield of continuously cropped dragon fruit. In summary, continuous cropping obstacles occurred in Y5 of intensive dragon fruit cultivation, with soil nematode diversity and soil fertility determining the crop's yield.

Several slug species are serious pests of agriculture and are difficult to control. One popular control method is the nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita, which has been used in slug control for > 25 years. However, there are reports of it failing to reduce slug numbers and damage in the field for unknown reasons. This may be due to lack of knowledge about how P. hermaphrodita performs when applied to different soils. We therefore assessed the survival, movement and pathogenicity of P. hermaphrodita infective juveniles (IJs) when added to six different soils (compost with and without peat, clay loam, loam, sandy loam and sandy soil). The soils were either frozen or autoclaved before use to eradicate resident nematodes prior to the experiment. P. hermaphrodita survived best in autoclaved compost without peat and in experiments with frozen soils, compost with and without peat was best. Survival of P. hermaphrodita was similar in other soils. Interestingly, in peat-free compost P. hermaphrodita reproduced prolifically, which may affect the long-term success of the nematode in the field as other life stages, apart from the IJ stage, cannot infect slugs. In infection experiments we found P. hermaphrodita added to compost with peat killed slugs faster than nematodes added to a sandy clay loam or sandy soil. In movement experiments, the nematodes remained within 3 cm of the application point in each soil. In summary, soil type severely affects P. hermaphrodita survival, and the ability to kill slugs; therefore it should be assessed by farmers and gardeners before use.

The importance of green areas in today's modern city concept is increasing day by day. In this understanding, the use of turfgrass [e.g. Bentgrass (Agrostis spp. L.); Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.); Common Bermudagrass Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. (Poales: Poaceae)] in sports fields is getting important. Golf courses mainly occurs turfgrass and not much nematological studies has been done in courses of T & uuml;rkiye. In this study, total of 51 soil and 3 water samples were taken from golf courses in Antalya, T & uuml;rkiye's largest golf tourism destination, in 2021. Within the scope of this study, plant parasitic nematode (PPN) species belonging to the genera Aphelenchoides Fischer, 1894 (Tylenchida: Aphelenchoididae), Aphelenchus Bastian, 1865 (Tylenchida: Aphelenchoididae), Criconemella (De Grisse & Loof, 1965) (Tylenchida: Criconematidae), Ditylenchus Filipjev, 1936 (Tylenchida: Anguinidae), Helicotylenchus Steiner, 1945 (Tylenchida: Hoplolaimidae), Hemicriconemoides Chitwood & Birchfield, 1957 (Tylenchida: Criconematidae), Hemicycliophora de Man, 1921 (Tylenchida: Hemicycliophoridae), Hoplolaimus von Daday, 1905 (Tylenchida: Hoplolaimidae), Longidorus Micoletzky, 1922 (Dorylaimida: Longidoridae), Paratrichodorus Siddiqi, 1974 (Triplonchida: Trichodoridae) and Tylenchus Bastian, 1865 (Tylenchida: Tylenchidae) were identified using morphological and morphometric methods. The most detected species in the samples was Hemicycliophora punensis Darekar & Khan, 1980 (Rhabditida: Hemicycliophoridae) (22.22%), while the least detected PPN species was Helicotylenchus dihystera (Cobb, 1893) Sher, 1961 (Tylenchida: Hoplolaimidae) (3.70%). In this study, it is important there are virus vector species among the identified plant parasitic nematode genera. These nematode species can play an active role in the spread of various viral diseases in turfgrass areas. In turfgrass areas where very sensitive cultivation is carried out, such as golf courses, PPN's cause direct damages by feeding, which serve as the source of entry of pathogens into the plants. This situation increases the prevalence and severity of the disease in infected fields. Therefore, early detection of the presence of PPN's in cultivation areas is important to determine effective control strategies.

Root-knot nematode (RKN) causes severe yield loss in cucumber. Understanding the interactions of biocontrol agent-soil microbiomes and RKNs is essential for enhancing the efficacy of biocontrol agents and nematicides to curb RKN damage to cucumber. The field experiment in this work was conducted to determine the ability of Bacillus velezensis GHt-q6 to colonize cucumber plants, investigate its effect on the control of RKNs, and assess its influence on soil microbiology in the inter-root zone of cucumber plants. After 10 days post-treatment (DPT), GHt-q6-Rif could stably colonize the roots (4.55 x 10(4) cfu center dot g(-1)), stems (3.60 x 10(3) cfu center dot g(-1)), and leaves (3.60 x 10(2) cfu center dot g(-1)) of cucumber. The high-throughput sequencing results suggested that the bacterial community diversity increased at the late development phase (p > 0.05). The strain GHt-q6 increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria (Gemmatimonadaceae, Sphingomonadaceae, Pseudomonadaceae). Throughout the complete cucumber growth period, strain GHt-q6 significantly increased soil urease, sucrase, accessible potassium, and phosphorus (p < 0.05). However, strain GHt-q6 had a minimal effect on catalase activity. At the pulling stage, strain GHt-q6 exhibited 43.35% control effect on cucumber RKNs, which was 7.54% higher than that of Bacillus subtilis. The results highlighted the significant potential of the strain GHt-q6 to manage cucumber RKNs and improve soil microecology. Hence, the applications of B. velezensis GHt-q6 can enhance the nematicidal action to curb RKN infecting cucumber.

Cyst nematodes are among the major plant-parasitic nematodes worldwide, and they cause significant damage to Brassicaceae crops, including Kimchi-cabbage, in Korea. To survey the incidence of cyst nematodes in Kimchi-cabbage fields, 469 soil samples were collected from the main producing areas between 2018 and 2021. Only cyst nematodes belonging to the genus Heterodera were investigated, and the overall nematode incidence was found to be 40%. Regionally, the highest incidence was observed in Taebaek, reaching 89%, with mean densities of cysts and eggs per 500 cm3 of soil recorded at 522 and 49,734, respectively. Based on Bayesian analysis of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene sequence, the cyst nematodes were identified as four species: clover cyst nematode (Heterodera schachtii, 4%), and white soybean cyst nematode (H. sojae, HSo, 2%). Mixed infestations were found in some fields, with HT + HG (4%) and HG + HSo (1%). These results indicate that HT is the dominant species in the main Kimchi-cabbage producing areas in Korea. In conclusion, implementing effective HT management strategies is critical to minimize economic losses in Kimchi-cabbage production in Korea.