Which nematode is specifically targeted by nematicide seed treatments?

• A. Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.)
• B. Aphids
• C. Phytophthora
• D. Botrytis

Answer: (A)

Nematicide seed treatments are designed to protect young roots by deploying a chemical shield around the seedling’s roots as they emerge, reducing infection by nematodes that attack the roots early on. The nematodes most commonly targeted in this way are root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.), which invade roots and form galls that severely restrict nutrient and water uptake from the start of growth. That makes Meloidogyli the specific nematode group these treatments are intended to guard against. Aphids are insects, not nematodes, and Phytophthora is an oomycete pathogen while Botrytis is a fungus; seed treatments for those organisms address different threats, not nematode infection.