The first plant-parasitic nematode discovered was—

✅ Explanation: Anguina tritici, commonly known as the wheat gall nematode or seed gall nematode, is recognized as the first plant-parasitic nematode discovered. It was described in 1743 by the English naturalist Turberville Needham. This nematode infects wheat seeds, causing the formation of galls that replace the kernels.

📌Other Options Explanations:
-Option A: Meloidogyne: These nematodes, known as root-knot nematodes, are major agricultural pests that cause significant damage to a wide range of crops by inducing the formation of galls on roots.
-Option B: Heterodera: These nematodes, known as cyst nematodes, are also important plant parasites that form cysts on plant roots, leading to reduced crop yields.
-Option C: Globodera rostochiensis: This nematode, the golden nematode, is a particularly destructive pest of potato crops.