The potato rot nematode,Ditylenchus destructor Thorne,1945,is an important plant-pathogenic nematode in the world and a plant quarantine pest on national agriculture of China. It causes harms to many underground fruit-bearing crops such as sweet potato（Ipomoea batatas）,potato（Solanum tuberosum）,garlic（Allium sativum）,etc.,and can also grow and reproduce on a great number of weeds and fungi. D. destructor is benefited by coolness and high humidity,whereas may be adversely affected by high temperature and desiccation. The nematode is mainly carried by infected vegetative propagation materials of host crops for both long-distance dissemination and local dispersal. There are obvious variations in its persistent survival,infection and damage performances among some different host crops,but the related causes and mechanisms have been still essentially unknown. D. destructor is here reviewed in the geographical distribution,host range,reproduction and development,infection cycle,environmental adaptation,and survival and parasitism related molecular mechanisms,main research topics that need to be further explored are pointed out,aiming to provide novel ideas and serviceable references for the research and practice in forewarning and management of the high risk pest.
