Fundamentals of Plant-Parasitic Nematode Diagnostics, Systematics and Classification
- 1st Edition - December 1, 2025
- Imprint: Academic Press
- Authors: Victor Phani, Pablo Castillo
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 4 5 1 3 6 - 2
- eBook ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 4 5 1 3 7 - 9
Fundamentals of Plant-Parasitic Nematode Diagnostics, Systematics and Classification presents a single, comprehensive resource for those interested in nematode biosys… Read more
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Fundamentals of Plant-Parasitic Nematode Diagnostics, Systematics and Classification presents a single, comprehensive resource for those interested in nematode biosystematics. The microscopic size, character plasticity, and habits of these animals which have long posed obstacles in their identification and derivation of relationships with others is addressed by systematic, complete presentation of current knowledge. Unlike other animal groups, the exact diversity of the nematodes is still significantly unknown and, except for some fossilized preservations in ambers, any solid paleontological proof for the nematodes is still lacking. In this critical bottleneck of having solid comprehensive data profile in hand for phylogeny estimation, scientists struggle to fully resolve the nematode evolutionary history toward developing a definitive classification. This book takes advantage of recent advances of molecular systematics and phylogenetic systems to create a single reference dataset from multiple scientific disciplines. By compiling and discussing the multiple classifications that have been proposed over time, Fundamentals of Plant-Parasitic Nematode Diagnostics, Systematics and Classification establishes a foundational reference point upon which future research can be based. Unlike other nematode taxonomies and systematics, which are focused on a specific group or classification, the book includes the core theories and principles of taxonomy, systematics and phylogeny, obtaining and managing characteristic data and diagnostic identification. This book will prove an invaluable resource for students, researchers and scientists.
- Presents the basic philosophies of taxonomy, systematics, phylogeny, and classification
- Identifies economically important plant-parasitic nematodes
- Guides in the selection of most appropriate tools for phylogenetic analyses, and reconstruction of evolutionary lineages
- Explores the evolution of nematode classification over time in the development of sound and natural classifications
- Includes precise data, their management and analysis for any type of taxonomic publication
Scientists, Researchers and Students in Agriculture, Plant Science and Nematology
1 Introduction
1.1 General body organization
1.2 The human and animal parasites
1.3 The plant parasites
1.4 Paleontological evidence of parasitism
1.5 Types of parasitism
1.6 The free-living nematodes
1.7 Abundance and survival
1.8 Nematodes in nature – agriculture continuum
1.9 Relevance of biosystematic knowledge for a nematologist
2 General principles for nematode taxonomy and systematics
2.1 Concept and definition of taxonomy
2.2 Levels of taxonomy
2.2.1 Alpha-taxonomy
2.2.2 Beta-taxonomy
2.2.3 Gamma-taxonomy
2.3 Taxonomic attempts towards classification
2.3.1 Morphotaxonomy
2.3.2 Numerical taxonomy
2.3.3 Cytotaxonomy
2.3.4 Chemotaxonomy
2.3.5 Molecular taxonomy
2.3.6 Other types of taxonomy concepts
2.4 Concept and definition of systematics
2.5 Systematics and taxonomy: which holds what?
2.6 From systematics to classification
2.7 Biological classification and hierarchy
2.8 Theories of classification
2.8.1 Essentialism
2.8.2 Nominalism
2.8.3 Empiricism
2.8.4 Cladism
2.8.5 Evolutionary classification
2.9 Brief classification of life forms
2.10 Definition of species and species concept
2.10.1 Morphological species concept
2.10.2 Non-dimensional species concept
2.10.3 Phenetic species concept
2.10.4 Biological species concept
2.10.5 Genetic species concept
2.10.6 Hennigian species concept
2.10.7 Agamospecies concept
2.10.8 Evolutionary species concept
2.10.9 Taxonomic species concept
2.10.10 Reproductive competition concept
2.10.11 Ecological species concept
2.10.12 Phylogenetic species concept
2.10.13 Autapomorphic species concept
2.10.14 Recognition species concept
2.10.15 Cladistic species concept
2.10.16 Cohesion species concept
2.10.17 Genealogical concordance concept
2.10.18 Evolutionary significant unit concept
2.10.19 Internodal species concept
2.10.20 Composite species concept
2.10.21 Genotypic cluster concept
2.10.22 Genic species concept
2.10.23 Differential fitness species concept
2.10.24 Successional species concept
2.10.25 Quasispecies concept
2.11 Speciation and extinction
2.11.1 Species complex, species flock and taxonomic inflation
2.12 Below-species ranks
2.13 Concept of genus
2.14 System of nomenclature
3 Character and character types
3.1 Definition of character
3.1.1 Character state
3.1.2 Character weighing
3.1.3 Character complexity
3.1.4 Character polarity
3.2 Types of character
3.2.1 General characters
3.2.2 Phenetic characters
3.2.3 Phylogenetic characters
3.2.4 Cladistic characters
3.3 Character data and selection of characters
4 Identification of nematodes
4.1 Approaches of identification
4.2 Taxonomic key
4.2.1 Types of taxonomic key
4.2.1.1 Single-access keys
4.2.1.2 Multi-access keys
4.2.1.3 Interactive keys
4.2.2 Use, construction, merits and demerits of taxonomic keys
4.3 Tools and techniques of identification
4.3.1 Morphological tools
4.3.2 Biochemical tools
4.3.3 Molecular tools
4.4 Identification of common plant-parasitic nematode genera
5 Note on molecular phylogeny and evolutionary history
5.1 Why to know phylogeny?
5.2 Phylogenetic tree or evolutionary tree
5.2.1 Construction of tree using molecular data
5.2.1.1 Selection of target molecular marker
5.2.1.2 Retrieval of sequences
5.2.1.3 Multiple sequence alignment
5.2.1.4 Selection of appropriate model
5.2.1.5 Making of tree
5.2.1.6 Assessment of tree reliability
5.2.2 Rooting of tree
6 Classification of plant-parasitic nematodes
6.1 Higher classification of nematodes
6.2 Nematodes and their allies
6.3 Classification of nematodes with special reference to plant-parasites
7 Representation and management of taxonomic data
7.1 Types of taxonomic literatures
7.2 Management of taxonomic data for a publication
1.1 General body organization
1.2 The human and animal parasites
1.3 The plant parasites
1.4 Paleontological evidence of parasitism
1.5 Types of parasitism
1.6 The free-living nematodes
1.7 Abundance and survival
1.8 Nematodes in nature – agriculture continuum
1.9 Relevance of biosystematic knowledge for a nematologist
2 General principles for nematode taxonomy and systematics
2.1 Concept and definition of taxonomy
2.2 Levels of taxonomy
2.2.1 Alpha-taxonomy
2.2.2 Beta-taxonomy
2.2.3 Gamma-taxonomy
2.3 Taxonomic attempts towards classification
2.3.1 Morphotaxonomy
2.3.2 Numerical taxonomy
2.3.3 Cytotaxonomy
2.3.4 Chemotaxonomy
2.3.5 Molecular taxonomy
2.3.6 Other types of taxonomy concepts
2.4 Concept and definition of systematics
2.5 Systematics and taxonomy: which holds what?
2.6 From systematics to classification
2.7 Biological classification and hierarchy
2.8 Theories of classification
2.8.1 Essentialism
2.8.2 Nominalism
2.8.3 Empiricism
2.8.4 Cladism
2.8.5 Evolutionary classification
2.9 Brief classification of life forms
2.10 Definition of species and species concept
2.10.1 Morphological species concept
2.10.2 Non-dimensional species concept
2.10.3 Phenetic species concept
2.10.4 Biological species concept
2.10.5 Genetic species concept
2.10.6 Hennigian species concept
2.10.7 Agamospecies concept
2.10.8 Evolutionary species concept
2.10.9 Taxonomic species concept
2.10.10 Reproductive competition concept
2.10.11 Ecological species concept
2.10.12 Phylogenetic species concept
2.10.13 Autapomorphic species concept
2.10.14 Recognition species concept
2.10.15 Cladistic species concept
2.10.16 Cohesion species concept
2.10.17 Genealogical concordance concept
2.10.18 Evolutionary significant unit concept
2.10.19 Internodal species concept
2.10.20 Composite species concept
2.10.21 Genotypic cluster concept
2.10.22 Genic species concept
2.10.23 Differential fitness species concept
2.10.24 Successional species concept
2.10.25 Quasispecies concept
2.11 Speciation and extinction
2.11.1 Species complex, species flock and taxonomic inflation
2.12 Below-species ranks
2.13 Concept of genus
2.14 System of nomenclature
3 Character and character types
3.1 Definition of character
3.1.1 Character state
3.1.2 Character weighing
3.1.3 Character complexity
3.1.4 Character polarity
3.2 Types of character
3.2.1 General characters
3.2.2 Phenetic characters
3.2.3 Phylogenetic characters
3.2.4 Cladistic characters
3.3 Character data and selection of characters
4 Identification of nematodes
4.1 Approaches of identification
4.2 Taxonomic key
4.2.1 Types of taxonomic key
4.2.1.1 Single-access keys
4.2.1.2 Multi-access keys
4.2.1.3 Interactive keys
4.2.2 Use, construction, merits and demerits of taxonomic keys
4.3 Tools and techniques of identification
4.3.1 Morphological tools
4.3.2 Biochemical tools
4.3.3 Molecular tools
4.4 Identification of common plant-parasitic nematode genera
5 Note on molecular phylogeny and evolutionary history
5.1 Why to know phylogeny?
5.2 Phylogenetic tree or evolutionary tree
5.2.1 Construction of tree using molecular data
5.2.1.1 Selection of target molecular marker
5.2.1.2 Retrieval of sequences
5.2.1.3 Multiple sequence alignment
5.2.1.4 Selection of appropriate model
5.2.1.5 Making of tree
5.2.1.6 Assessment of tree reliability
5.2.2 Rooting of tree
6 Classification of plant-parasitic nematodes
6.1 Higher classification of nematodes
6.2 Nematodes and their allies
6.3 Classification of nematodes with special reference to plant-parasites
7 Representation and management of taxonomic data
7.1 Types of taxonomic literatures
7.2 Management of taxonomic data for a publication
- Edition: 1
- Published: December 1, 2025
- Imprint: Academic Press
- Language: English
VP
Victor Phani
Dr. Victor Phani is currently serving as an Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Entomology at College of Agriculture, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal, India. He received his BSc (Ag) Hons degree from Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal, India, and MSc and PhD from ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India. He visited the University of Hertfordshire, UK for his ad-interim PhD research. He has been the recipient of multiple awards and gold medals for his research excellence, and published several research and review articles in journals of international and national repute. He is also engaged in different projects financed by government and private sectors as Principal Investigator and Co- Principal Investigator. Phani’s research has focused on host-parasite interaction, biocontrol, and taxonomic studies of the plant-parasitic nematodes.
Affiliations and expertise
Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Entomology at College of Agriculture, West Bengal, IndiaPC
Pablo Castillo
Dr. Pablo Castillo is currently serving as Research Scientist, Department of Crop Protection at Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Spanish National Research Council, Córdoba, Spain. He received his B.Sc. in Biology at the University of Granada, Spain, in June 1984 and his Ph.D. in Nematology at the University of Granada in December 1988. He joined the Department of Crop Protection at the Centre for Agricultural Research and Formation in Granada from the regional government of Andalusia in 1989. In 1990 he was recipient of the Phytopathological Research Award ‘Antonio Ciccarone’, from the Mediterranean Phytopathological Union, and in 1992 moved to Córdoba (Spain) to the Department of Crop Protection at the Institute for Sustainable Agriculture belonging to the Spanish Council for Scientific Research, where he is now a research scientist. Castillo’s research has focused primarily on plant-nematode and nematode-soilborne fungi interactions, as well as diagnosis of nematode diseases, host-parasite relationships and nematode control by means of strategies compatible with sustainable agriculture. He has produced more than 250 peer reviewed research articles and co-authored several comprehensive monographs of the plant-parasitic nematode genera Rotylenchus, Pratylenchus and Meloidogyne.
Affiliations and expertise
Research Scientist, Department of Crop Protection at Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Spanish National Research Council, Córdoba, Spain