Vietnamese study maps rice‑killing nematodes, estimates $157 B global crop loss

Researchers from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology surveyed six provinces in the Red River Delta and identified 48 plant‑parasitic nematode species affecting rice. The study discovered two species new to science – Hirschmanniella namdinhensis and Aphelenchoides vinhphucensis – and recorded three nematode species in Vietnam for the first time.

The scientists highlighted three high‑risk species – Hirschmanniella oryzae, H. mucronata and Meloidogyne graminicola – that can cause severe yield losses. Globally, such nematodes are ranked among the top crop pests, accounting for an estimated 12.3% loss of agricultural production each year, equivalent to about $157 billion in economic damage. The research also noted that shifting from traditional flooded paddies to alternate wetting and drying irrigation can alter nematode communities, underscoring the need for targeted management strategies.

These findings provide a scientific basis for developing region‑specific control measures to protect rice yields in Vietnam and potentially mitigate the broader economic impact of nematode infestations worldwide.