Nematode pests of some major cereals in Nigeria: Need for integration of morphological/morphometrical, biochemical, and molecular diagnostic approaches for accurate identification

Plant‐parasitic nematodes pose a major threat to crop production in Nigeria. Comprehensive data on yield losses for most cereal crops are not readily available. Research on maize ( Zea mays ), rice ( Oryza sativa ), and sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor ) has shown an 18%–67% reduction in yield linked to the destructiveness of parasitic nematodes, particularly root‐knot and root‐lesion nematodes. Continuous monoculture and a conservative approach to agriculture increase the incidence and population density of nematodes, leading to higher levels of damage and losses in most cultivated cereal crops. These losses affect the food security of the growing population of Nigeria and many African countries that are heavily dependent on cereals. The accurate identification of nematodes is fundamental for effective management strategies. Nematode taxonomy based on morphology has been difficult due to intraspecific character variations coupled with the limited expertise of indigenous nematologists. Biochemical and molecular marker‐based tools and approaches have allowed efficient diagnosis of most nematode species affecting cereal production globally. These approaches have proved useful due to their practicality, rapidness, accuracy, and cost‐effectiveness. This review describes the important economic effects of these parasitic nematodes on cereal production and highlights the need for integrative approaches to taxonomy for accurate species identification that will improve nematode diagnosis, thereby contributing to the increase of food production in Nigeria.