biostudies-literatureEves-van den Akker SScottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical ServicesThe University of Leeds Sustainable Agriculture Bursary FundScottish Society for Crop ResearchMedical Research CouncilNatural Environment Research CouncilWellcome TrustBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council5842-51https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC4981918biostudies-literatureUnknown24(23)Distinct populations of the potato cyst nematode (PCN) Globodera pallida exist in the UK that differ in their ability to overcome various sources of resistance. An efficient method for distinguishing between populations would enable pathogen-informed cultivar choice in the field. Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) annually undertake national DNA diagnostic tests to determine the presence of PCN in potato seed and ware land by extracting DNA from soil floats. These DNA samples provide a unique resource for monitoring the distribution of PCN and further interrogation of the diversity within species. We identify a region of mitochondrial DNA descriptive of three main groups of G. pallida present in the UK and adopt a metagenetic approach to the sequencing and analysis of all SMolecular ecologyA metagenetic approach to determine the diversity and distribution of cyst nematodes at the level of the country, the field and the individual.PMC4981918NE/J011355/1MR/K001744/1BB/M014207/1NBAF010003G0900740095831BB/F000642/1Pickup JJones JTEves-van den Akker SReid AUrwin PEBlok VCLilley CJCock PJAnderson EBlaxter MfalseA metagenetic approach to determine the diversity and distribution of cyst nematodes at the level of the country, the field and the individual.Distinct populations of the potato cyst nematode (PCN) Globodera pallida exist in the UK that differ in their ability to overcome various sources of resistance. An efficient method for distinguishing between populations would enable pathogen-informed cultivar choice in the field. Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) annually undertake national DNA diagnostic tests to determine the presence of PCN in potato seed and ware land by extracting DNA from soil floats. These DNA samples provide a unique resource for monitoring the distribution of PCN and further interrogation of the diversity within species. We identify a region of mitochondrial DNA descriptive of three main groups of G. pallida present in the UK and adopt a metagenetic approach to the sequencing and analysis of all S2015-01-01T00:00:00Z2015 Dec2026-05-01T00:09:41.2Z2019-03-27T02:20:29ZS-EPMC49819182660721610.1111/mec.13434