Molecular approaches and the taxonomy of insect-parasitic and pathogenic nematodes.

This chapter summarizes past and current molecular methods considered for diagnosis of insect-parasitic and pathogenic nematodes. Readers should be aware that the practice of developing molecules as taxonomic tools is not a trivial and quick task. On the contrary, it requires the same rigour and attention that has been applied for the past centuries to morphologically based taxonomy. Molecular taxonomy is considered as an additional step for species descriptions. It is only because of the focus of this book that emphasis is put on molecular methods. Comprehensive taxonomic studies aided with biological and behavioural observations should be undertaken to assess the genetic diversity and delimit species boundaries of novel nematode species.