This textbook provides a comprehensive introduction to the morphology, taxonomy, and systematics of plant-parasitic nematodes. The book presents the structural features used in nematode identification and classification and explains their taxonomic significance. It combines established morphological approaches with contemporary methods in molecular, ecological, and integrative taxonomy, making it a practical resource for the study of nematode diversity and classification.

The book is organized into five parts. The opening chapters describe the morphology of plant-parasitic nematodes, including the body wall, digestive, nervous, excretory, and reproductive systems. Subsequent chapters introduce the principles and types of nematode taxonomy and provide an outline classification of major taxonomic groups and economically important superfamilies. The book then examines morphological taxonomy in detail, followed by chapters on biochemical, molecular, ecological, AI-based, and integrative taxonomy. The final section discusses emerging developments and future directions in nematode taxonomy and systematics. Diagnostic features, classification frameworks, and identification resources are presented throughout the text.

This book serves as a valuable learning and reference resource for postgraduate students, researchers, teachers, and professionals in plant nematology, plant pathology, crop protection, agricultural entomology, applied botany, and applied zoology. It also supports courses on nematode morphology, taxonomy, and systematics.

Dr. P. Parvatha Reddy serves as Senior Scientific Advisor at the Dr. Prem Nath Agricultural Science Foundation, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. He previously served as Director of the ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research and Head of the Division of Entomology and Nematology, Karnataka, India. He obtained his Ph.D. jointly from the University of Florida, Florida, USA, and the University of Agricultural Sciences, Karnataka, India. His research interests include plant-parasitic nematodes, crop protection, horticulture, integrated pest management, and sustainable agriculture. He has received several national awards and professional recognitions and is listed among the world's influential researchers in international citation-based rankings. Dr. Reddy has authored numerous books and published extensively in the fields of nematology, crop protection, horticulture, and agricultural sciences.