ABSTRACT
Nematode identification is crucial for nematologists, diagnosticians and policy-makers. Due to the nematodes small size, life cycle and different habitats, scientists have been struggling to find morphological differences among species that would differentiate them. In nematology, species identification has been based primarily on light microscopy observations and measurements of morphological and morphometrical features mainly of females and males. Many nematode genera, especially plant-parasitic nematode genera, exhibit little morphological diversity. The use of PCR technology enables nematologists to diagnose nematode diseases rapidly and accurately. Extensive characterization of isozyme phenotypes has subsequently been carried out for other plant-parasitic nematode genera. Nowadays, most labs worldwide are commonly using molecular methods to diagnose nematodes since cost associated with reagents and equipment are affordable and there has been a crescent interest in molecular taxonomy by young scientists. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction is used for detection and quantification of DNA present in a sample which is reflected by the number of nematodes present in sample.
