Unveiling the Secrets of Plant-parasitic Nematodes for Effective Management.

Plant-parasitic nematodes are one of the nature's most successful of all parasites. These tiny animals have been reported from all terrains of all continents. In spite of having one of the simplest body forms, these animals have diversified them to acquire almost all possible niches and their feeding habits. Several important features present with them greatly help them to have upper hand compared to other pathogens in nature. Even in the absence of amphimixis in certain plant-parasitic nematodes, these animals have tremendous genetic diversity. Plant-parasitic nematodes have developed sophisticated strategies to cross-talk with their host. Several important proteins effectors from nematode and also, proteins from host faithfully co-ordinates this sophisticated dialogue between host-pathogens. It has also been reported that plant-parasitic nematodes have acquired / borrowed genes from bacteria through a process of horizontal gene transfer. Painstaking researches have led to identification of the parasitism genes which encodes the proteins required for successful completion of life-cycle. Although responsible for more than $175 billion annually to worldwide agriculture, we have only a handful method to control the damage caused by them. Our limited understanding of the biology of these nematodes severely limits our progress towards designing novel control strategies. With introduction of the several new molecular tools in field of plant nematology, have opened up new vistas in our understanding and also offered unparallel opportunity to look beyond traditional control methods and have a look in secret world of plant-parasitic nematodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]