A Biological Alternative For The Management Of Plant-Parasitic

Plant-parasitic nematodes limit crop production worldwide causing yield losses estimated at $215 billion per year. Therefore, there is a need to develop environmentally friendly novel alternatives for nematodes control, such as the use of beneficial endophytic fungi. The latter microorganisms establish with the plant host a mutualistic type of symbiotic interaction that provides the plant with protection against various plant pathogens and pests, including nematodes. This plant protection may be due to the antagonistic effect of the fungus on the nematode or the defence responses from the plant that are activated during colonization by the endophytic fungus. The present review aims to summarize the state of the art of various mechanisms displayed by several species of fungi belonging to the Ascomycota, Glomeromycota, Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota and Zygomycota that are involved in protection against plant-parasitic nematodes.