Plant Parasitic Thread Worms (Nematodes)
About 15% species of these parasites are plant parasitic causing severe threat to various crops all over the world including India. Plant parasitic nematodes are responsible for loss of about 45 billion rupees all over the world. Plant nematodes can infect Pine, Citrus plants, Coconut, Rice crop, Maize ,Peanut, Soya bean, Banana, Potato, Sweet potato, Beat etc. causing infection of root, stem leaf, flower and seed etc. Source of infection is contaminated soil containing eggs or larvae of infective plant nematode which enter in host plant through root in 2nd juvenile larval stage. This infection spreads from one place to other with contaminated soil, farmers instruments, shoes, flow of water and with infected plants and plant product. Plant nematodes are controlled by fumigation, chemicals and plant nematode predators.