Plant Parasitic Nematodes in Sustainable Agriculture of North America

Plant-parasitic nematodes are recognized as one of the greatest threats to crop production throughout the world. Estimated annual crop losses of $8 billion in the United States and $78 billion worldwide are attributed to plant parasitic nematodes. Plant parasitic nematodes not only cause damage individually but form disease-complexes with other microorganisms thereby increasing crop loss. Nematode diseases of crops are difficult to control because of their insidious nature and lack of specific diagnostic symptoms which closely resemble those caused by other plant pathogens and abiotic diseases. Future developments of sustainable management systems for preventing major economical agricultural losses due to nematodes is focused on strategies that limit production costs, enhance crop yields, and protect the environment. This book presents a first compendium and overview for nematode problems and their management across North America. Each chapter provides essential information on the occurrence and distribution of plant parasitic nematodes, their major crop hosts, impact on crop production and sustainable management strategies for each region of the continent including, Canada, Mexico and all states of the USA. For each region, a thematic overview of changes in crop production affected by plant parasitic nematodes and their management strategies over time will provide invaluable information on the important role of plant parasitic nematodes in sustainable agriculture.

Dr. Sergei A. Subbotin is presently working in the Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, California Department of Food and Agriculture, USA and has three association positions as Visiting Professor of the Gent University, Gent, Belgium; Senior Researcher, Center of Parasitology of A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Research Associate , Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, USA. He received his Ph.D. in 1987 in Helminthology (Nematology), K. I. Skrjabin Institute of Helminthology of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Moscow, Russia with a thesis entitled: ”Histological and cytological changes in roots of plants induced by sedentary nematodes of the order Tylenchida”. During his career, he worked as Scientist in several Research Institutions in Russia and also in UK, IACR-Rothamsted, Belgium, Agricultural Research Centre, Germany, Institut für Nematologie und Wirbeltierkunde, USA, University of California, Riverside. The research activities of Dr. Sergei. A. Subbotin are mainly focused on systematics and biology of plant parasitic nematodes, with special emphasis on molecular methods of diagnostics of these pests. He is the author of two books, twenty one chapters, more than 180 peer-review international publications and numerous oral and poster presentations in different national and international meetings. He serves as Editors or Member of Editorial Boards for Russian Journal of Nematology, Journal of Nematology, Nematology and ZooKeys and is a regular reviewer of manuscripts for many scientific journals.

Dr. John J. Chitambar is presently serving as State Primary Plant Pathologist/Nematologist, having held prior positions as Senior and Associate Plant Nematologist, at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, USA. In addition, he is an Research Associate at the Department of Entomologyand Nematology, University of California, Davis, USA. He received his doctorate degree in 1983, in plant pathology from the University of California, Davis, with a research dissertation entitled, “Effects of Pratylenchus vulnus and Meloidogyne spp. on grape rootstocks, and life-history and morphology of P. vulnus”. Following an Associate Scientist appointment at the Nematology Department, University of California, Riverside, Lecturer at the Biology Department, Allahabad Agricultural Institute, India, and a Post-doctorate appointment at the Nematology Department, University of California, Davis, he joined the State Department and continues there for the past thirty years. Dr. Chitambar’s research work is primarily on taxonomy, morphology, and biology of plant parasitic and freeliving nematodes. He has authored one book, co-authored one chapter, 48 articles and several oral and poster presentations in nematological and science journals. Hehas addressed several nematological issues in government documentations including reports, advisories, training manuals, numerous pest risk assessments, as well as conducted regulatory nematology training workshops. Dr. Chitambar has served as Associate Editor for Journal of Nematology, and has reviewed numerous articles submitted for publication to various nematological and plant science journals and dissertations of doctorate candidates.