Status and prospects of nematode resistance in crop plants – A review

Resistance to nematodes is conferred by major, dominant genes and their use has usually revealed complementary virulence in nematode. Tolerance of nematode damage is a desirable character in resistant cultivars, many of which have an unacceptable degree of intolerance. Equally, as tolerant, susceptible cultivars have the potential to increase nematode populatlon densities to extremely damaging levels, tolerance should be combined with resistance. Overall, for crops to perform well in nematode-infested soil, it has been found that tolerance is a useful and necessary adjunct to resistance. Even without resistance, tolerance is an important attribute of many low value crops especially in regions where nematicide and resistance cultivars are not available.