INTRODUCTION

General nematodes are lower invertebrates having slender cylindrical, bilaterally symmetrical, unsegmented bodies taping at both ends but females of some species of plant parasitic nematodes assumes varying size and shapes e.g., kidney shape, lemon shape and pear shaped.

HISTORICAL REVIEW OF NEMATOLOGY

One of the earliest record of nematode in human history is reported in the religions scripture Vedas 6000-4000 BC as reported by Ray in 1986 in the National Nematological Conference held at New Delhi, India.

The other oldest record of human parasitic nematode is Ascaris lumbricoides, the intestinal worm of humans appeared in the “Yellow emperor Classic of Internal Medicine” from china, 2700 BC.

Ascris lumbricoides and guinea worm Dracunchus medinensis are parasites of man were known to Egyptian as an ancient civiliazation of the Mediterranean and Middle East dated 1553-1550 BC

The next earliest written record of a nematode is also found in Bible, 1250 BC

They are only second to insect in number of species and perhaps the most numerous multicellular animals on this earth.

HISTORICAL REVIEW OF NEMATOLOGY

Then there are number of scientist who reported nematodes parasitizing animals and birds in different centuries.

Hippocrates 430BC reported pin worm Enterobius vermicularis from horse.

Celsus 53 BC -7AD reported nematodes from cestodes. Cow milk 100AD mentions Ascarid from calf. Galen 130-200 AD was the first who reported nematodes Trigla

spp. From fish. Magnus 1200-1280 provided the first record of nematodes from

birds namely falcon. The giant kidney worm Dioctophyma renale was discovered by

caesal pinus from a dog kidney in 1519-1630 AD.

HISTORICAL REVIEW OF NEMATOLOGY

The first formal reference of plant parasitic nematode was during the 18th century by Needham from England in 1743 who discovered the wheat gall nematodes Anguiana tritici causing ear cocle disease of wheat.

An American scientist N. A. Cobb, often referred to as “Father of Nematology” was the fist who proposed the word “Nematology”.

the Nematology is the study of nematodes that are often called eel worms, round worms, thread worms and nemas, a diversified group of animal kingdom that occur worldwide in every conceivable environment.

Later on other famous scientists of the 18th century Linnaeus 1768; Scopoli 1777 and Steinbuch 1979 recorded the same species attacking other cereals.

The first plant parasitic nematode considered as of economic importance at that time was a cyst forming nematode observed by Schacht, 1859 causing a serious disease of sugar beet in Germany, which marketed by declined the beet production. Schmidt in 1871 described this nematode as Heterodera schachtii, the sugar beet nematode.

The Bastian 1865 gave the comprehensive monograph on free living nematode. Butschli 1873, 1876 gave the first labial detailed description, illustration and morphology of free –living nematodes. De Man 1884 provides the measurement of nematodes called De Man formula used in taxonomy today.

During the second half of the 20th century, Nematology grew rapidly and became full-fledged discipline of science.

HISTORICAL REVIEW OF NEMATOLOGY

Pakistan the importance of nematodes was first realized with the prevalence of wheat gall nematode Anguiana tritici on wheat in 1952 by Hafiz and Sattar from Jhang area.

the systematic research was initiated in 1974 after the establishment of National Nematological Research Centre University of Karachi by Dr. M.A. Maqbool, who has played a key role in the development of Nematology in Pakistan.

Since then the Plant Nematology has been growing rapidly and gaining more importance as compare with other traditional plant protection disciplines. During the last few decades the scope of Nematology expand rapidly with the emergence of several new areas such as application of molecular or DNA based techniques in nematode taxonomy, free living nematodes in environmental monitoring and Entomopathogenic nematodes as insect pest control.

OCCURRENCE OF NEMATODES

50% are marine nematode, 25% are free living soil nematode 15% are animal parasites 10% are plant parasitic nematodes

MODE OF DAMAGE

The plant parasitic nematode impact almost every plant on this earth and even every part of the plant including roots, stems, leaves, fruits, buds and seeds causing heavy economic losses

One cubic foot of soil may contain millions of individual nematodes belonging to several different taxonomic groups.

Only 3% of all nematodes species have been studied and identified.