The morphological and molecular characteristics of 41 populations of cereal cyst nematodes (Heterodera avenae group) collected in Adana, Osmaniye, Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Gaziantep, and Kilis provinces in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey were studied. The morphological characters and morphometric features of second-stage juveniles and cysts showed the presence of 3 Heterodera species: H. avenae, H. filipjevi, and H. latipons. All morphological values of these distinct populations were very similar to those previously described for these species. Genetic variation was observed among the identified cyst nematode species H. avenae, H. filipjevi, and H. latipons. Intraspecific polymorphism was observed within H. avenae and H. latipons but not in H. filipjevi populations. Molecular analysis using ITS regions of rDNA confirmed the identities of the 3 Heterodera species. According to our results, 75% of isolates were identified as H. avenae, 15% as H. latipons, and 10% as H. filipjevi.

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A survey of plant parasitic nematodes associated with chickpea was conducted in the chickpea growing areas of Turkey including 37 districts in 17 provinces during spring and summer of 2014-2016. A total of 211 soil and root samples were collected. Nematodes were extracted from soil by different extraction methods to ensure all kinds of nematode groups. Nematodes were identified using morphological and morphometric features. In addition, Pratylenchus spp. Filipjev, 1936 were determined using species-specific primers. Ditylenchus dipsaci (Kühn, 1857), Pratylenchus neglectus (Rensch, 1924) and Pratylenchus thornei Sher & Allen, 1953 were the most common of the plant parasitic nematodes associated with chickpea in the areas surveyed.

Infestation levels of the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Oliver, 1790) and its natural enemies on palm trees in recreation areas were investigated in the Adana province of Turkey in 2008. The trunks of dead palms were sampled for R. ferrugineus and for the presence of entomopathogenic nematodes. While 20% of Phoenix canariensis Hort. were found to be killed by R. ferrugineus, only 2 trees from other species, 1 Washingtonia filifera (L. Linden) and 1 Phoenix dactlylifera L., were killed. Only one species of entomopathogenic nematode, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Poinar, 1975) (Nematoda: Heterorhabditidae), was isolated from the R. ferrugineus specimens. Seasonal mortality rate in the total larval population (total 565 larval specimens) of R. ferrugineus was 69%. H. bacteriophora resulted in a significant mortality rate (80%) in the pupae population (total 314 pupal specimens). Overall, 70% of the total of 879 pre‐adult specimens were found to be fatally infested by the attacks of this nematode. Heterorhabditis bacteriophora killed few adults, corresponding to 2% of the overall mortality rate. It is concluded that H. bacteriophora could be evaluated as a potential candidate for biological control of R. ferrugineus in the Mediterranean region.

The cereal cyst nematode (CCN), Heterodera filipjevi,has a global distribution and can reduce wheat yields by up to 32 %. Plant genetic resistance can effectively manage H. filipjevi populations, so 31 Iranian wheat landrace accessions were screened for H. filipjevi resistance under greenhouse conditions. PI628144 (syn. AUS28321) was resistant and five other accessions moderately resistant to H. filipjevi and may provide novel CCN-resistance for plant breeders to exploit.