THE LIFE CYCLE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN CEREAL CYST NEMATODE HETERODERA LATIPONS IN CYPRUS

Abstract

Field studies on the life cycle of the Mediterranean cereal cyst nematode, Heterodera latipons, on barley (cv. Athenais), revealed that the nematode completes only one generation per growing season. Juveniles started to invade young roots thirteen days after sowing, at a soil temperature of 14.5 °C, reaching peak populations (345 per 150 g soil) at plant emergence while disappearing completely ten weeks later. Young cysts, and cysts containing coiled embryos were firstly seen on the roots 54 and 98 days from juvenile root invasion while the accumulated heat units, above 7 °C, for the above developmental stages, reached 215 and 386 day degrees C°, respectively.