author(s)
Yogiraj Namdeo Zirwal, Rashid Pervez and Uma Rao

abstract
A survey was conducted and soil samples were collected from rhizosphere of Arecanut (Areca catechu), Orange (Citrus L.), Bamboo (Robet) (Bambusa vulgaris), Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), Guava (Psidium guajava), Pine (Pinus L.), Pea (Pisum sativum L.), Bamboo (Local) (Bambusa vulgaris), Pineapple (Ananas comosus L.), Rice (Oryza sativa) and Ageratum (Ageratum conyzoides) from different localities in and around the district of Shilong, Meghalaya to explore diversity and community structure of soil nematodes in 2019. Different nematode genera and trophic groups were assessed in terms of absolute frequency, density and prominence value. A total of 22 soil nematodes have been encountered and among them, nine belong to plant parasitic nematodes viz., Helicotylenchus sp., Tylenchorhynchus sp., Xiphinema sp., Hoplolaimus sp., Meloidogyne sp., Longidorus sp., Pratylenchus sp., Hemicriconemoides sp., and Hirschmanniella sp., whereas seven belong to predaceous nematodes viz., Iotonchus sp., Mylonchulus sp., Mononchoides sp., Hadronchoides sp., Paramylonchulus sp., Parahadronchus sp. and Diplogaster sp. and six to bacteriovorus nematodes viz., Rhabditis sp., Tratorhabditis sp., Mesorhabditis sp., Panagrolaimus sp., Acrobeloides sp., Cephalobus sp. Community analysis showed that Helicotylenchus sp. was more frequently followed by Tylenchorhynchus sp., whereas M. incognita was the most abundant and prominent plant parasitic nematode in the community. This preliminary study indicates that there is a significant diversity of nematode fauna that are under explored and hence there is an urgent need to explore undertake a systematic study to map the nematode biodiversity and their role in agriculture in Meghalaya which mainly depends on organic cultivation.