ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an overview of edible mushrooms as an emerging source of bioproducts for the control of livestock nematodes and plant parasites. The generalities and biology of free-living nematodes, phytoparasites and gastrointestinal nematodes (NGI's) of ruminants are detailed. Subsequently, the biology, life cycle and generalities of edible mushrooms are presented as well as their bioproducts, highlighting the most important secondary metabolites with nematicidal activity. Finally, the use of these bioproducts isolated from these edible fungi to control parasitic nematodes in the agricultural sector is discussed. Nowadays, chemical nematicides are the most popular and effective products used to manage nematodes; however, the long-term use of these products leads to an increasingly resistant population. Therefore, edible mushrooms can potentially be employed in nematode control. Different fungi structures can be used in the formulation of biopesticides, such as the mycelium, spent mushroom compost (SMC), enzymes, secondary metabolites or macromolecules with nematotoxic activity. Biopesticides can be formulated using just the fungus itself or combined with other molecules. Thus, this chapter demonstrates that edible mushrooms have a great potential to be a clean and efficient approach to nematode control in the future.
