Abstract The orthodox seed is the most prevalent form of exchanged or traded agricultural commodity and seed-transmitted pests use this to their advantage and spread. Exotic consignments of seeds, soil as contaminant of seeds and packing material were examined for presence of nematodes. Regulatory nematological techniques like visual examination, soaking and teasing of seeds, examination of a small quantity of accompanying soil and packing material, were used for detection of nematodes associated with the germplasm of agricultural crops. The examination of samples (of non-Indian origin) revealed the presence of plant nematodes of quarantine importance, viz., Anguina tritici, Aphelenchoides besseyi, A. arachidis, Ditylenchus angustus, D. destructor, D. dipsaci, Heterodera schachtii, Pratylenchus crenatus, P. penetrans and Rhadinaphelenchus cocophilus. All of these species except A. tritici, A. besseyi and P. penetrans are not reported to occur in India. Some of the nematodes intercepted are new host record...