The present invention concerns double stranded RNA compositions and transgenic plants capable of inhibiting expression of essential genes in parasitic nematodes, and methods associated therewith. Specifically, the invention relates to the use of RNA interference to inhibit expression of a target essential parasitic nematode gene selected from the group consisting of a parasitic nematode cytosolic chaperonin gene, a parasitic nematode gene encoding heat shock protein-90, a parasitic nematode gene homologous to the C. elegans Y65B4BR.5a gene, and a parasitic nematode gene homologous to a C. elegans pat-10 gene, and relates to the generation of plants that have increased tolerance to parasitic nematodes.