Interactions between plant parasitic nematodes and other harmful organisms

Organisms living in a dynamic community are bound to be involved in direct or indirect mutualistic or antagonistic interaction with one another. Plant pathogens and pests often yield to mutualistic interactions to foster the aggressiveness of their colonization on invaded plant tissues. Plant parasitic nematodes, although harmful on their own, can take advantage of unique associations with certain insect pests or pathogens to form disease complexes. By modifying host morphology, vectoring plant viruses, creating mechanical wounds, and breaking plant resistance, these phytonematodes play pivotal roles in disease development and severity. Association of Meloidogyne incognita with Fusarium oxysporum, Aphelenchoides ritzemabosi with Rhodococcus fascians, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus with Monochamus galloprovincialis, and, Xyphinema index and grapevine fanleaf virus are amongst examples of economically important nematode-disease complexes that can cause massive damage and yield loss to their host crops. This review provides extensive insight into the predominantly synergistic interactions between plant parasitic nematodes and other plant pathogens, in the hope of inciting more vivid interest among scientists in the mechanisms that regulate such dynamic interactions. A major emphasis is the need to study the interactions, at the molecular level, between plant parasitic nematodes and other harmful organisms which will open up insights to potential sustainable management strategies.