''Paratrichodorus'' is a genus of terrestrial root feeding (stubby-root)
nematode
The nematodes ( or grc-gre, Νηματώδη; la, Nematoda) or roundworms constitute the phylum Nematoda (also called Nemathelminthes), with plant-Parasitism, parasitic nematodes also known as eelworms. They are a diverse animal phylum inhab ...
s in the
Trichodoridae
Trichodoridae (stubby-root nematodes, trichodorids) is a family of terrestrial root feeding nematodes, being one of two that constitute suborder Triplonchida.family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
(trichorids), being one of five genera.Order Triplochida: Paratrichodorus Nemaplex: Nematode-Plant Expert Information System. University of California, Davis. Version October 9, 2012. They are economically important plant parasites and virus vectors. The females are didelphic (two genital tracts), and are distributed worldwide.
Taxonomy
Historically, ''
Trichodorus
''Trichodorus'' is a genus of terrestrial root feeding (stubby-root) nematodes in the Trichodoridae family (trichorids), being one of five genera.Trichodoridae
Trichodoridae (stubby-root nematodes, trichodorids) is a family of terrestrial root feeding nematodes, being one of two that constitute suborder Triplonchida.Decraemer, W. 1980. Systematics of the Trichodoridae (Nematoda) with keys to their species. Revue. Nematol. 3(1): 81-99. /ref> While the latter approach has not been accepted by some authorities, Siddiqi elevated them to genus status in 1980, an approach that few other authors have followed, but maintained by that author, and now receiving some support from modern molecular approaches to
taxonomy
Taxonomy is the practice and science of categorization or classification.
A taxonomy (or taxonomical classification) is a scheme of classification, especially a hierarchical classification, in which things are organized into groups or types. ...
. At least in the case of ''Nanidorus'', phylogenetic analysis has supported its recognition as a separate genus, although clustering with ''Trichodorus'' rather than its parent ''Paratrichodorus''.
Plant pathology
Trichorids became of interest in 1951.CHRISTIE, J. R. & PERRY, V. G. (1951). Removing nematodes from soil. Proc. helm. Soc. Wasb. 18: 106-108. At that time ''Trichodorus christie'' (='' Paratrichodorus minor'') was recognised as a pest of crops in Florida.