Across the world, many billions of dollars each year are lost due to the damaging abilities of nematodes on cash crops.

This changed in 2004 when a new classification system was presented by De Ley and Blaxter using SSU rDNA for comparison between different species of nematodes.

[5][6][7] This nematode is a migratory endoparasite that ranges from about 0.4 to 0.5 millimetres (1⁄64 to 3⁄128 in) long and has a lip region that is angular and offset from the body.

P. brachyurus has a short strong stylet about 20 um long and large round basal knobs.

Lesion nematodes severely damage a plant and open points of entry for other bacteria and fungus to enter the root.

[13] Due to P. brachyurus being able to infest a wide range of crops and being so damaging, it is of high economic importance.

[citation needed] P. brachyurus causes severe losses in maize (corn) in Western Nigeria and South Africa among other areas.

Peanuts, pineapple, soybeans, sugar cane, tomatoes, citrus, and cotton are just a few of the crops it can infest.

In 2001 in Nematropica, it was stated that the host range of these nematodes has not been determined meaning that crop rotation as a way to manage these pest could prove to be difficult.

[18] Two scientists by the names of Michell and Powell presented evidence in their study that P. brachyurus can increase the incidence of Fusarium Wilt in cotton.

Damage threshold levels have not been well established but using fumigated plots has shown significant increases in yield.

[22] In 1992 Vast demonstrated that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi could enhanced the plant’s resistance to nematodes by being a physical barrier.

This nematode is so widespread and has such a wide range of hosts that several different management strategies will have to be developed based on the specific crop and area.