Occurrence of Heterodera latipons on barley in Cyprus

Abstract

During a small-scale nematode survey on barley in Cyprus, carried out in spring 1987, the mediterranean cereal cyst nematode, Heterodera latipons Franklin, 1969, was found in great number attacking barley (var. Athenais). Infested plants were stunted and their root systems harboured numerous white cysts, Earlier soil sampling, made when plants had reached 10-15 cm high, revealed numerous second-stage juveniles in the soil. The nematode seems to be widespread in areas where barley 1m:, been grown for many years in monoculture. In one field (Latsia Village) yield losses caused by the nematode were estimated to be over 50 per cent. The nematode was initially collected from a small field (Athienou) and identified by Mary franklin, in 1977.