Compositions and methods for conferring nematicidal activity to bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds are provided. In particular, methods for killing or controlling a nematode pest population, particularly a Pratylenchus spp., e.g., Pratylenchus brachyurus population, are provided. The methods include contacting the nematode pest with a pesticidally-effective amount of a polypeptide comprising a nematicidal toxin, particularly a nematicidal toxin active against a Pratylenchus spp. nematode, e.g. Pratylenchus brachyurus. Further included are methods for increasing yield in plants by expressing the toxin of the invention.
