Current State of Plant Parasitic Nematodes in Canada

In Canada, there is a consensus among experienced nematologists that although crop losses related to plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs) have not been exactly estimated, they could be in the range of 5–15%. A relatively small portion of Canada’s land is suitable for agriculture (65 million ha). Across the country, the character of agriculture differs from one province to the next, with climates and soil types influencing the commodities produced. The most common and damaging groups are root lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus spp.), and cyst nematodes (Heterodera spp., and Globodera spp.). With the acceleration of climate change, quarantined and invasive alien nematode species pose greater challenges, for example the stem and bulb nematode (Ditylenchus dipsaci) has become a serious pest in recent years. It is likely that the most devastating PPNs in the future will be different from the ones being dealt with at the present.