Important role of nematodes in Agriculture and health:

1. Nematodes as biological Pest control:

 Some predator nematodes attack and kill a range of pests such as borers, grubs, thrips and
beetles with negligible effects on other organisms.
 These nematodes are known as ‘entomopathogenic’ nematodes.
 Nematodes generally feed on smaller organisms like protozoa, bacteria, fungi and other
nematodes.
 Some nematodes live in association with specific bacteria that can infects wide ranges of
insect pests. When such nematodes infects insects, it releases bacteria that multiplies in host
insect and kill them

2. Improve soil fertility; Nitrogen cycle

 Nematodes directly helps in nutrient mineralization through their feeding interactions.

 For example, bacterial-feeding nematodes consume Nitrogen in the form of proteins and
other N-containing compounds in bacterial tissues and release excess Nitrogen in the form of
ammonium (NH4+), which is readily available for plant use.

3. Decomposition of organic matters:

 Free-living nematodes in soil are very important and beneficial in the decomposition of organic
material and the recycling of nutrients in soil.
 Bacteria and fungi feeding Nematode do not feed directly on soil organic matter, but feed on
the bacteria and fungi which decompose organic matter.
 The presence of theses nematodes and their feeding activity accelerate the decomposition
process.
 Nematodes feeding recycles minerals and other nutrients from bacteria, fungi, and other
substrates and returns them to the soil where they are accessible to plant roots.

4. Plant parasitic nematodes:

 Some plant parasitic nematodes infects roots of plants and damage crops. Eg. Globodera
 The mouthpart of plant parasitic nematodes is a needlelike stylet which is used to puncture
cells during feeding.
 There are two types of plant parasitic nematodes; Ectoparasitic nematodes which remain in
the soil and feed at the root surface and Endoparasitic nematodes which enter roots and can
live and feed within the root.

5. Nematodes as bioindicators of soil health or condition:

 Population of nematodes depends on condition of soil, climate, seasons, crops etc. Therefore
indicates the condition of soil health.
 Analysis of the diversity and complexity of nematode communities in the soil is a valuable tool,
which indicates soil biological fertility, or soil health.

6. Nematodes dispense microbes for infection:

  Nematodes carrying live and dormant microbes on their surfaces and in their digestive
systems and help in distribution of bacteria and fungi throughout soil and also in rhizosphere
region.
 Sometimes nematodes acts as a vector for plant viruses. Eg. Nepo viruses, Tobraviruses.

7. Human and animal pathogenic nematodes;

 Nematodes are pathogenic to animals and human.

 Eg. Ascaris,