Chemoreception in plant parasitic nematodes.

The role and functioning of the anterior chemosensory organs of plant parasitic nematodes is examined, with particular emphasis on the amphids. The morphology of the amphids is discussed primarily in the context of the changes in the ultrastructure associated with different life stages. The involvement of amphidial secretions in chemoreception and the behavioral and electrophysiological analyses of nematode responses to semiochemicals are discussed with special reference to research on sex pheromones. These research techniques, combined with the use of lectins and antibodies, provide information on nematode sensilla that may lead to novel control strategies for economically important plant parasitic nematodes based on perturbing nematode sensory perception to prevent host or mate location.