Advances, challenges and prospects of holistic Multi-Omic approaches for enhanced protection against parasitic nematodes in food crops

Background and Aims: Plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are among the most damaging biotic stress, causing significant economic losses in staple food crops globally. Understanding the complex plant-nematode interaction mechanisms at molecular, cellular, physiological, and biochemical levels is important to minimise PPN-related crop damage. While plants have evolved diverse internal defence mechanisms to counteract the detrimental impacts of PPNs, relying solely on inherent mechanisms is often inadequate to avert yield loss. Advances in omics technologies have revolutionized the identification and characterization of molecular regulators involved in nematode resistance in plants. This review summarizes how multi-omic approaches are used to inform and develop protective strategies against cyst nematodes (CNs), root-knot nematodes (RKNs) and root-lesion nematodes (RLNs) in important food crops. Results: Multi‑Omic approaches have enabled the identification and characterization of molecular regulators, including resistance genes, quantitative trait loci (QTLs), marker-trait associations (MTAs) and nematode effectors, involved in plant responses to PPNs. These approaches provide a comprehensive view of the signalling pathways, transcriptional reprogramming and metabolic changes that occur during nematode infection. The integration of omics data has improved our understanding of the complex plant–nematode interaction and has informed the development of novel, targeted approaches for nematode management in food crops. Conclusion: Multi‑omics represents a powerful tool for understanding the plant–nematode interactions by uncovering the molecular basis of resistance to CNs, RKNs and RLNs. Advancing this knowledge will facilitate the development of durable and sustainable approaches to minimize PPN‑related crop damage and enhance food security.