Atolani, OFabiyi, O.A2023-06-132023-06-132020Atolani, O. and Fabiyi, O. A. (2020). Plant Parasitic Nematodes Management Through Natural Products: Current Progress and Challenges. In Management of Phytonematodes: Recent Advances and Future Challenges. Ansari, R. A., Rizvi, R. and Mahmood, I. (Eds). 297-315.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4087-5_13https://uilspace.unilorin.edu.ng/handle/20.500.12484/11136The devastating effect of huge crop losses to field and storage pest brings about a downturn in the availability of food, thus subjecting the citizens to poverty and hunger. The plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) are important agricultural pests, which are hidden enemies of the farmers. Their existence in soil and the gravity of the potential loss which accrues to them are not known to the lay farmers. Significant quantitative and qualitative economic losses are attributed to their infestation worldwide on a yearly basis. The damage posed by plant-parasitic nematodes is steadily on the increase and is at times not reported, but oftentimes associated with factors such as nutrient deficiency and extreme weather conditions. Nematodes are a big challenge to food production in an overpopulated world. They are listed as an important crop pest in the world, largely because of their wide geographical distribution and their ability to parasitize virtually all crops. Export trade restrictions are often imposed due to the presence of quarantine nematode pests. Different integrated pest management (IPM) strategies have been employed in the control of plantparasitic nematodes with various degrees of success. The use of synthetic nematicides, though an established internationally recognized effective approach, is largely negated by the toxicity and adverse effects on humans and the environment. Thus, the need for concerted worldwide intensive research for safer alternatives has become imperative. However, there are several challenges in the control of plantparasitic nematodes, majorly the adoption of new approach to control by the farmers, large-scale production hiccups, government policies, and potential toxicity of the new approach. This work reviews the various strategies used in combating plantparasitic nematodes. Based on the resultant toxicities reported for chemical control and the effectiveness of biological control (bio-control) which is considered safer, more discussions were made on bio-control. Biological control, application of botanicals, and soil amendment methods rank high among others owing to their environmental safety. Over 2400 plant species worldwide are known to be pesticidal. Some tested plants and phytochemical isolates with reported in vitro or in vivo nematicidal properties were listed. The merits and demerits of the bio-control method were also discussed. It was suggested that although the bio-control method is affordable and effective, it should be performed with caution as many emerging reports indicated that many plant materials contain phytochemicals that could induce carcinogenicity, endocrine disruption, and various degrees of toxicities with endpoints such as hepatotoxicity, cytotoxicity, ecotoxicity, carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, and immunotoxicity which finally result into morbidity and mortalityenResearch Subject Categories::FORESTRY, AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES and LANDSCAPE PLANNING::Plant production::Plant and forest protectionChemical control · Biological control · Losses · Yield · PhytonematodesBook chapter