Nematodes

Economic importance

KPM
Medically importance
• Human diseases
Examples
• Ascariasis (Roundworm infection)
• Enterobiasis (Pinworm infection)
• Wuchererias (Elephantiasis or Lymphatic filariasis)
• Ancylostomiasis (Hookworm infection)
• Trichuriasis
• Trichinosis
• Strongyloidiasis
• Loiasis
Agriculturally important
• Plant Disease and destruction
• Root-knot disease
Nematodes important to the ecosystem
• Nematodes are primary producers and play an important role in the
breakdown of organic matter in their ecosystem.
• Nematodes feeding, digestion, and excretion enable nutrients and
minerals which are essential to plants, to be recycled from decaying
organic matter, bacteria, and fungi, so they are accessible to plants.
Benefits of Nematodes
Nematodes enhance soil quality in five major areas:
• regulate the populations of other soil organisms,
• mineralize nutrients into plant-available forms,
• provide a food source for other soil organisms
• consume disease-causing organisms.
• Nematodes are important nutrient mineralizers.