Bacteria in the management of plant-parasitic nematodes

Abstract

Nematodes are one of the most important constraints to crop productivity, and on a worldwide basis, they cause 12 % annual loss in the yield of important food and fiber crops. On account of eco-friendly plant protection drive, great emphasis has been given to the exploitation of potential bioagents for controlling nematodes. Bacteria are numerically the most abundant organisms in soil; they can be categorized into numerous categories depending upon the mechanism that they exhibit to control plant-parasitic nematodes. However, the major constraints in the development of various bacteria as an effective biocontrol agent have been the mass production, storage and distribution of fresh materials, and effect of abiotic factors like pH, moisture, and soil types which influence the activities of these microbial biopesticides, host range, and virulence of the inoculum. Alternatives such as application of a mixture of inoculated biocontrol agents and a better insight into the molecular mechanisms of action against nematodes could help in the development of successful biocontrol agents.