**About the Editors**

#### **Zafar Handoo**

Since 1990, Dr. Zafar Handoo has served as a Microbiologist at the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS) and the National Specialist for the US, providing accurate nematode identifications. He conducts research on the systematics and morphology of plant-parasitic nematodes. He identifies nematode samples received from federal, state, and foreign agencies and scientists for research, control, and regulatory purposes. He is also the curator of the USDA Nematode Collection, managing and expanding the collection with thousands of valuable slides and vials. He oversaw the development of a computerized internet-accessible database for the collection with thousands of sample records on hosts, occurrence, and distribution. He loaned hundreds of slides to scientists around the world to enable them to perform accurate identifications of nematodes. His research interests include plant-parasitic nematodes of the order Tylenchida and some forms of Dorylaimida. Dr. Handoo has served as Editor of the *Journal of Nematology* over the last ten years and on the Editorial Board of the *Int. J. of Nematology*, the Pakistan *J. of Nematology* and Turkish *J. of Agri. and Nat. Sciences*, served as Chair, and is now a member of the Systematic Resources Committee and Regulatory Committee of the Society of Nematologists.

#### **Mihail Kantor**

Dr. Mihail Kantor is an Established Researcher at the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS). He graduated with an M.S. in Plant Biotechnology from Claflin University and obtained a Ph.D. from University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca. After his Ph.D, he continued his career in academia, having held several teaching and research positions until 2017 when he joined the Mycology and Nematology Genetic Diversity and Biology Laboratory USDA, ARS. His main research interest focuses on the identification of plant-parasitic nematodes by integrating classical systematics and morphology with molecular techniques. In addition to his primary research, he is studying the effects of plant metabolites, plant extracts, and cover crop amendments on plant-parasitic nematodes. Other ongoing research includes studying the interactions between plant-parasitic nematodes and vegetables or microbes. Dr. Kantor manages the curation of plant-parasitic nematodes, as well as the maintenance and expansion of the USDA Nematode Collection.
