About this Research Topic

Background

Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN), “the unseen enemies” of plants, are a threat to economically important crops, affecting production, quality, and yield and causing losses estimated at 173 billion US dollars/year. The top 10 PPN, based on their scientific and economic importance, include root-knot (Meloidogyne spp.), cyst (Heterodera/Globodera spp.), and root-lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus spp.), Radopholus similis, Ditylenchus dipsaci and Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, among others.

For the last 50 years, control of PPN relied on the use of synthetic nematicides and soil fumigants that are available in the market, rapid-acting, and highly reliable. Nevertheless, with increasing regulatory pressure due to environmental concerns, most of the traditional nematicides have been banned or withdrawn to be replaced by safer products. Today, the development of sustainable control strategies is highly required, such as the use of bionematicides, biocontrol agents, cultural methods, and plant resistance. However, they are not always available or reliable compared to synthetic nematicides.

The main goal of this topic is to bring together the latest advances in sustainable management strategies for important PPN. We welcome original Research and Reviews on the cover themes, including the application, evaluation, and validation of PPN control methods in–vitro, pot, and field assays.

Contributions are welcomed, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:

- potential bionematicides against PPN;
- efficacy of bionematicides under pot and field assays;
- potential biocontrol agents (fungal and bacterial agents, among others) on PPN management;
- control methods based on plant host-status of crops and plants, such as resistant crops and root-stocks, and cover and trap crops;
- efficacy, mode of action, and impact on the environment (including impact on non-target nematodes) of new nematicides;
- development and evaluation of new agricultural practices and applications (field and semi-field assays).

Routine screenings of bionematicides, biocontrol agents, chemicals, plant resistance may not be accepted if a high potential for sustainable PPN management is not presented.

Keywords: biocontrol agents, bionematicides, cultural methods, nematode control, plant-parasitic nematodes, plant resistance, sustainable management

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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