Important nematode diseases of India and their management

There is no plant on the earth which is not infected by one or more species of nematodes. Most species of nematodes feed on roots and underground parts of plants but a few also attacks the arial plant parts. They may be ectoparasitic or endoparasitic. Nematode damage often impairs the proper functioning of the root tissues. Attacked plants are stunted, their foliage becomes yellowish, tillering and branching is reduced. Because of uneven distribution of nematodes in the field, patches of yellowish, stunted and sparse growing plants can be seen in the field. Some important nematode problems of India are Root-knot nematodes, Reniform nematodes, Pigeonpea cyst nematode, Rice root nematode, Burrowing nematode, Root lesion nematode, Stem nematode, White tip nematode, etc., which cause severe damage to agricultural crops and create major loss in production. Details about their management practices are given in this article.