Sustainable strategies for management of the "false rootknot nematode" Nacobbus spp

The genus Nacobbus, known as the false root-knot nematode, is native to theAmerican continent and comprises polyphagous species adapted to a widerange of climatic conditions. Alone or in combination with other biotic andabiotic factors, Nacobbus spp. can cause significant economic yield losses onmain food crops such as potato, sugar beet, tomato, pepper and bean, in Southand North America. Although the genus distribution is restricted to the Americancontinent, it has quarantine importance and is subject to international legislationto prevent its spread to other regions, such as the European Union. Themanagement of Nacobbus spp. remains unsatisfactory due to the lack ofinformation related to different aspects of its life cycle, survival stages in thesoil and in plant material, a rapid and reliable diagnostic method for its detectionand the insufficient source of resistant plant genotypes. Due to the high toxicityof chemical nematicides, the search for alternatives has been intensified.Therefore, this review reports findings on the application of environmentallybenign treatments to manage Nacobbus spp. Biological control strategies, suchas the use of different organisms (mainly bacteria, fungi and entomopathogenicnematodes) and other eco-compatible approaches (such as metabolites,essential oils, plant extracts, phytohormones and amendments), either alone oras part of a combined control strategy, are discussed. Knowledge of potentialsources of resistance for genetic improvement for crops susceptible toNacobbus spp. are also reported. The sustainable strategies outlined here offerimmediate benefits, not only to counter the pathogen, but also as goodalternatives to improve crop health and growth.