Techniques for Work with Plant and Soil Nematodes

Suitable for students and researchers of nematology and parasitology, as well as quarantine and advisory service personnel.

This up-to-date, comprehensive book covers the practicalities of working with and studying soil and plant nematodes. Written by an international team of experts, it includes traditional and new methodologies, as well as sections on behavioural and physiological assays, and cytogenetic, biochemical and molecular biology techniques.Plant-parasitic and free-living nematodes are increasingly important in relation to food security, quarantine measures, ecology (including pollution studies), and research on host-parasite interactions. Being mostly microscopic, nematodes are challenging organisms for research. Techniques for Work with Plant and Soil Nematodes introduces the basic techniques for laboratory and field work with plant-parasitic and free-living soil-dwelling nematodes. Written by an international team of experts, this book is extensively illustrated, and addresses both fundamental traditional techniques and new methodologies. The book covers areas that have become more widespread over recent years, such as techniques used in diagnostic laboratories, including computerized methods to count and identify nematodes. Information on physiological assays, electron microscopy techniques and basic information on current molecular methodologies and their various applications is also included. This book is an essential resource for students of nematology and parasitology, academic researchers, diagnostic laboratories, and quarantine and advisory service personnel. It provides a much-needed methodology standard for anyone involved in work on plant and soil nematodes.