Biological control of plant-parasitic nematodes: soil ecosystem management in sustainable agriculture

This book is subdivided into six sections. After an initial introductory chapter, the second section covers the soil environment and the organisms that live in soil, and how they are influenced by plants and farming systems. The third and fourth sections deal with the natural enemies of nematodes (parasitic and predatory fungi, invertebrate predators, bacterial parasites and viruses), and a diverse range of fungal and bacterial symbionts that have the capacity to interfere in some way with nematode development. Methods of reducing populations of plant-parasitic nematodes through biological means are discussed in the fifth section, with a particular focus on a concept referred to as 'integrated soil biology management'. The final section summarizes the main points made in the book, and offers some suggestions on priorities for future research. It also includes a chapter that encourages advisors and practitioners to think about the biological status of their soils, and provides guidelines on how soil biological processes can be utilized to reduce losses from nematode pests. Available In Print