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Document Type

Review

Subject Areas

Botany

Keywords

Phytoparasitic nematodes; Rhizosphere microbiome; Nematode-bacteria interactions; Synergistic pathogenicity

Abstract

Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are among the most significant agents contributing to plant disease complexes, acting both as direct parasites and as facilitators of bacterial infections. Their interactions with phytopathogenic bacteria are multifaceted, involving mechanical wounding caused by stylet penetration, disruption of plant cell integrity, and alteration of host physiology. These changes create favourable conditions for bacterial entry, colonization, and systemic spread. Additionally, PPNs can suppress plant defines responses and modify root exudate profiles, thereby enhancing bacterial survival and virulence in the rhizosphere. Such interactions often lead to a synergistic increase in disease incidence and severity, resulting in greater yield losses compared with infections caused by either pathogen alone. In many pathosystems, nematodes enhance bacterial wilt, crown gall, canker, and other bacterial diseases through direct facilitation or indirect modification of host tissues. Certain foliar nematodes, such as Aphelenchoides spp. and Anguinatritici, also act as biological vectors, transmitting bacterial pathogens into aerial plant parts and thus expanding the epidemiological range of infection. Depending on the nature of the interaction, the relationship between PPNs and bacteria may be obligatory, where both are required for disease expression, or synergistic, where nematode activity intensifies bacterial pathogenesis. Understanding these complex biological and ecological relationships is fundamental for designing integrated, sustainable management strategies that effectively manage nematode–bacterium disease complexes and reduce crop losses, and enhance long-term plant health and productivity.

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