PPNs cause over US$ 157 billion in annual crop losses globally. Accurate diagnosis is crucial for managing these pests effectively. Molecular diagnostics improve nematode identification accuracy, crucial for crop protection. PCR and qPCR are key tools that are widely used for sensitive detection and quantification of plant parasitic nematodes. Isothermal amplification and DNA barcoding are emerging field-friendly techniques. The evidence leans toward combining molecular and morphological methods for best results. There is ongoing debate about the decline in classical taxonomy expertise and integrating multiple methods for accuracy, especially under field conditions.