Nematodes are the most diverse and highly significant group of soil-inhabiting microorganisms that play a vital role in organic material decomposition and nutrient recycling. Diverse geographical locations and environmental gradients show a significant impact on the diversity of nematodes. Present study aims to assess the effects of ecological (altitude, temperature, moisture) and edaphic (soil pH, nutrients, soil patches) factors on the soil nematode diversity and structure at five different landscape patches (forests, apple orchards, rice fields, pastures, and alpine zone) from ten different sites of Kashmir valley (India). Differences in the altitudinal gradients results in the shift of generic nematode population. Among the soil patches, highest nematode diversity was observed in forest soil and least in alpine soil; however, bacteriovorous nematodes dominated all the soil patches. The temperature and moisture have a significant effect on nematode diversity, the highest nematode trophic levels were observed above 21°C temperature, and 30% moisture. Nematode abundance decreased from alkaline to acidic pH of the soil. Soil nutrients such as, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) have shown a detrimental effect in nematode richness at each site, where nematode diversity and richness of genera were higher at abundant soil N and P but decreased at low soil nutrients. Ecological indices like diversity index (DI), Shannon-Wiener Index (H'), enrichment index (EI), and maturity Index (MI) values demonstrated forest soil more favourable for nematodes and high soil health status than other soil patches. This study suggested that these indices may be helpful as soil monitoring tools and assessing ecosystem sustainability and biodiversity.

A new genus, Loffienema dhanoriensis gen. n., sp. n. is described and illustrated from soil mixed with mature compost of Biodiversity Park, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah (BGSB) University, Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is characterized by medium-sized body, slightly offset labial region, weakly developed, isoglottoid stegostom, amphidelphic reproductive system, slender and separate spicules, spathulate gubernaculum and reduced bursa with eight pairs of bursal rays. Its relationship and distinguishing features with other closely related genera are discussed.

Salmonella genus represents most common food borne pathogens isolated from food producing animals and is responsible for causing zoonotic infections in humans and other animal species, including birds. As a result, Salmonella diseases are among the most common problems for the humans, animals, and food industry around the world. Despite rising attention about other pathogens, Salmonella continues to be the most prominent cause of food borne disease worldwide. Salmonella can be transferred to humans at any point along the farm-to-fork chain, most commonly through infected animal-derived foods such as poultry and poultry related products (eggs), pork, fish, and so on. Some Salmonella serotypes have been confined to a single serovar and are known as “host-restricted” while the others have a wide host spectral range and are known as “host-adapted” serotypes. Globally Salmonella infection causes huge mortality and the infection plays a huge role in immune response by evolving multiple mechanism to subvert immunity to its own benefit. Numerous infectivity markers and determinants have indeed been reported to play essential role in Salmonella pathogenesis to colonize its host by invading and avoiding the host’s intestinal shielding system.

Diversity of plant parasitic nematodes in the rhizosphere of maize (Zea mays) from some areas of District Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir was studied. A total of ten plant parasitic nematode species were found to be associated with the rhizosphere of maize plants in these areas. The nematode species were Pratylenchus zeae, P. brachyurus, Helicotylenchus dihystera, Longidorus brevicaudatus, L. elongatus, Xiphinema diversicadatum, X. elongatum, Tylenchorhynchus spp. Ditylenchus spp. and Criconemoides spp. The most dominant and frequently occurring species was found to be P. zeae, with absolute frequency of 86.66% followed by P. brachyurus (80%), H. dihystera, (76.66%) and L. brevicaudatus (73.33). Contrarily, the least frequent was Criconemoides spp. (36.66%) followed by Tylenchorhynchus spp. and Ditylenchus spp. with absolute frequencies of 53.33% and 60%. Similar trend was observed in case of relative frequencies. In case of P. zeae, mean density of 56 and relative density of 16.05% was observed followed by P. brachyurus and H. dihystera with mean densities and relative densities of 50.33, 14.43% and 49, 14.04% respectively. On the other hand, Criconemoides spp. and Tylenchorhynchus spp. showed mean densities of 6.33 and 23.33 and absolute densities of 1.81% and 6.68% respectively. P. zeae exhibited high prominence value of 57.85 followed by P. brachyurus (49.96). The least prominence value was found in Criconemoides spp. (4.05) followed by Tylenchorhynchus spp. with prominence value of 18.30.

Nematodes are critical for soil processes, and changes in nematode community structure have the potential to have a significant impact on ecosystem functioning. As a result, fluctuations in nematode diversity and community structure can be used to ascertain the functional biodiversity of a soil. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different vegetation and soil pH and N on nematode structure and diversity from ten different sites (Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Kishtwar) of the Jammu division. The highest absolute frequency of plant parasitic nematodes (91-100%) was observed in subtropical forests in Ramban, temperate forests in Doda, while the highest absolute frequency of bacterivorous nematodes (84-87%) was observed in crop soil in Reasi and Jammu. Soil pH had a detrimental effect on nematodes; bacteriovores were abundant at low pH, and plant parasitic at higher pH. The total nitrogen content also increased in all nematode trophic groups except omnivores. Ecological indices such as the enrichment index (EI), channel index (CI) and maturity index (MI) values indicated that crop soil with organic management is more nematode-friendly and has a better soil health status than other soil ecosystems. Nematode community structure indices may be helpful as soil monitoring tools and for assessing ecosystem sustainability and biodiversity.