It’s no secret that nematodes threaten the health of agriculture in farms throughout the entire world. As the population worldwide continues to increase, food security over the coming years will become more and more prominent and nematodes present a major global challenge. Parasitic nematodes have the ability to threaten all sorts of crops and, even worse, almost every portion of the plant. When it comes to nematode attacks, plant leaves, roots, stems, seeds, and fruits are all at risk of being targeted. Being aware of a parasitic nematode attack is important, however, in most cases once an invasion is recognized it may be too late to save the crop. As such, being able to recognize the symptoms of nematode disease is critical.

The most common signs of nematode presence is in root impairment, in addition to:

• Increased wilting
• Dieback in perennials
• Growth reduction
• Mineral-deficiency
• Decreased winter-hardiness

Nevertheless, some of the nematode symptoms are identified in plants and these signs vary in the ease of recognition. For instance, above-ground symptoms of attacks come in the form of chlorosis, stunting, reductions in vigor, or yield declines, as well as foliar discoloration in bud and leaf nematode. In addition, galling which is triggered by root-knot nematode is identified much more easily. However, it is important not to confuse these symptoms with root-galling that is caused by various sheath nematodes.

Minimizing the damage of plant parasitic nematodes is critical today and, more importantly, tomorrow. As the world’s agricultural industry continues its preparation for a massive population increase, growers must be aware of the most effective ways to control parasite invasions. As advances in the foliar industry continue to arise, farmers, growers, and gardeners must understand the importance of controlling nematode attacks.X