The availability of molecular tools has transformed animal taxonomy and systematics in the last two decades. In particular, small animals that have few morphological diagnostic attributes can be identified and diagnosed accurately by adding molecular markers to those already used. In nematodes, molecular sequence information relevant for taxonomy and systematics is currently transforming the re...

Genetic variation within nuclear and mitochondrial DNA of Meloidogyne species and host races has been evaluated for the development of root-knot nematode molecular diagnostics. This review summarizes the distinctive features of several useful DNA-based assays for plant-parasitic nematodes, focusing upon the direct application of these procedures for Meloidogyne detection, identification, and sy...