ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Plant Sci.
Sec. Plant Pathogen Interactions
This article is part of the Research TopicProtecting Crops From Pests and Diseases with New Advancements in Bioprotectants and BiostimulantsView all 11 articles
The Role of Predatory Nematodes in Managing Plant-Parasitic Nematodes: Community Dynamics and Microbial Implications in Tropical Soils
Provisionally accepted
Richard Raj Singh*
Clancy Iyekar- University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam
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Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) pose a significant threat to banana cultivation, particularly in tropical regions like Guam. This study investigates the dynamics of nematode communities associated with banana cultivars, focusing on interactions between predatory nematodes (Mononchus spp.) and PPNs (Meloidogyne spp.), and their implications for soil health. Our aim was to evaluate the response of cultivars to nematode prevalence while characterizing nematode community structure and soil chemical properties. Conducted at Inraja Station, Guam, the study employed a completely randomized block design. Soil and root samples were assessed for nematode communities. Controlled pot experiments were also performed to evaluate predator-prey interactions. The results showed no differences in nematode densities among the cultivars, indicating uniform susceptibility to PPNs. We identified three predominant PPN genera: Meloidogyne (root-knot nematodes), Helicotylenchus (spiral nematodes), and Pratylenchus (lesion nematodes), with Meloidogyne as the most dominant. Soil samples contained a higher abundance of bacterivoress and predatory nematodes when compared to PPNs. Furthermore, soil analysis revealed high organic matter content and elevated carbon and nitrogen levels. Our temporal analysis revealed that the interaction strength between predatory nematodes and plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) increased over time, resulting in a significant reduction in gall formation, egg-laying females, and juvenile populations. This relationship was further quantified through interaction strength (I) values derived from the soil analysis of predatory and root-knot nematodes. In conclusion, our findings highlight the potential for integrating predatory nematodes into pest management. By emphasizing the balance between beneficial nematodes and PPNs, this study provides novel insights applicable to sustainable agricultural practices.
Keywords: Banana, Plant-parasitic nematodes, Predatory nematodes, soil organic matter, tropical soil, Tomato, Temporal interactions
Received: 30 Sep 2025; Accepted: 25 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Singh and Iyekar. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Richard Raj Singh
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