Healthy seed, as the most important agricultural input, plays a key role in ensuring food security. Plant parasitic nematodes feed on roots, germinating seeds, stems, crowns, leaves, and developing seeds, causing significant damage to plants. Seed-borne nematodes are transmitted by adhering to seeds or by forming galls inside the seeds. The activity of these nematodes decreases when the seed dries, and they enter a dormant stage or quiescence. During this period, the larvae, which are the infective stage of the nematode, utilize stored proteins in their bodies to survive. When favorable conditions occur (such as moisture or host plant secretions), the larvae emerge from dormancy and resume activity. Some species of the genera Anguina spp., Aphelenchoides spp., Ditylenchus spp. and Globodera spp. are able to remain dormant inside seeds or plant tissues and are transferred to new areas through the planting of infected seeds, leading to reduced germination, growth abnormalities, necrotic spots, rotting, and ultimately a significant decrease in yield. Management of these nematodes relies on an integrated approach, the most important components of which include: use of healthy and certified seeds, cleaning and removal of infected galls, hot water seed treatment, seed disinfection with appropriate nematicides, crop rotation with non-host plants, use of resistant cultivars, removal of host weeds, and compliance with quarantine regulations. Adopting an integrated pest management (IPM) approach and utilizing modern technologies such as nanotechnology and molecular methods for detection play an effective role in reducing the damage caused by these nematodes and preventing their spread.
