Investigations on the life cycle of Heterodera ciceri at 20°C revealed that coiled second stage juveniles were found inside newly formed eggs 17 days after they were produced. Females, females containing embryonated eggs, and cysts, were observed on the roots of chickpea 19, 36 and 38 days after sowing, equivalent to an accumulation of 180, 350 and 370 day degrees, respectively, above the 10°C basal temperature. The largest nematode populations were obtained at 20·25°C. Syncytia formation and disorder of the root stelar structures are the main anatomical changes induced by the parasite. It is inferred that only one generation of the nematode per growing season of the host crop would be completed under field conditions.
