World Applied Programming, Vol (3), Issue (4), April 2013.

164-168
ISSN: 2222-2510
2013 WAP journal. www.tijournals.com

The Life Cycle of the Cereal Cyst Nematode, Heterodera

filipjevi, and Effect of Plant Hosts on its Population
Sonia Seifi

Akbar Karegar

Zia Banihashemi

Payam-e-Nour University, P.O.Box

19395-3697, Tehran, Iran

Department of Plant Protection,

College of Agriculture, Shiraz
University, Shiraz, Iran
karegar@shirazu.ac.ir

Department of Plant Protection,

College of Agriculture, Shiraz
University, Shiraz, Iran

seifi_s2010@yahoo.com

Abstract: Two assays were carried out in Badjgah, Fars province, the north of Iran, with the purpose of
establishing the development time of Heterodera filipjevi life cycle phases in wheat roots and also to study the
effect of the certain cereals including bread wheat, durum wheat, barley, corn and millet on the nematode
population densities. Results of field microplots showed that hatching of eggs was occurred at 2-6 C. The
second stage juveniles (J2) were observed in the roots within periods with 13 C average temperature and with
no precipitation. Juveniles (J3) and (J4) were appeared within the roots at 110 and 120 days after penetration,
respectively. The white females adhered to the roots and males in soil were found 7 and 14 days later,
respectively. Cyst formation occurred about two months after observing white females; In short, the process of
H. filipjevi development was completed during 197 days. Results of greenhouse assay showed that the studied
nematode species reproduced best on bread wheat, followed by barley and durum wheat; while millet and corn
were considered as relatively resistant hosts.
Keywords: Cereal cyst nematode, resistance, wheat, barley, millet, corn

I.

INTRODUCTION

Small grain cereals can suffer considerable economic damage from different species of the cereal cyst nematodes
(Heterodera avenae group) which are widely distributed throughout the world (11; 16, 23). Three main species include
H. avenae Wollenweber, 1924, H. filipjevi (Madzhidov, 1981) Stelter, 1984 and H. latipons Franklin, 1969 are
considered as the most economically important (12). Although often studies have been confined to H. avenae, but some
studies have been conducted on host range, life cycle and pathogenicity of H. filipjevi. It has been shown that 20 species
of cereals and grasses could be hosts of this species (2). From the other hand, H. filipjevi has been shown by numerous
studies to be one of the most important nematode pests of cereals in Russia, Ukraine, Tajikistan and other republics of
the former USSR (20) and also in Norway (8), Turkey (9) and Iran (7). It has been suggested that the pathogenicity of
this species to summer cereals is similar to that of H. avenae (1).
In Iran, H. filipjevi and H. latipons shown to be the dominant species of cereal cyst nematodes in most cereal growing
areas (22). It also has been shown that H. filipjevi developed only one generation per growing season and completed its
life cycle within 155 days in winter wheat cv. Sardari (6). The aim of present study was to investigate some aspects of
the life cycle of H. filipjevi in winter wheat cv. Shiraz in field microplats and furthermore, to assess the effect of some
common grown cereals in Fars province on the nematode population densities in greenhouse condition.
II.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

II.1. The life cycle of H. filipjevi in field microplots

In order to determination of the required time to completion the life cycle of H. filipjevi, an assay was carried out in two
square microplots (each with one m2) in location of the college of agriculture, Shiraz university (Badjgah region), Fars
province, The north of Iran (2950_N; 5246_E). Wheat seeds of Shiraz cultivar (10 g/m2) were sown in naturally
infested soil (Table 1) at 29 October 2007. Irrigation and fertility applications were done consistent with local farmers

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Sonia Seifi et al. World Applied Programming, Vol (3), No (4), April 2013.

scheduling. Microplots were sampled at five days intervals, from 8th December 2007 to 5th July 2008. For each
microplot at each sampling time, five cores (four corners plus center of square) and also five plants adjacent to these
cores were removed for extraction. The second stage nematodes (J2s) were extracted from soil by tray method (24) and
furthermore, different life stages of the nematode (eggs, juveniles, females and cysts) were detected after root staining by
using of fushin acid-lactophenol and then destining of root tissues by lactophenol solution. Cysts or eggs+J2 were
counted in 100 cm3 soil subsamples or one g of roots.
II.2. The effect of different plants on H. filipjevi population densities
A greenhouse experiment was conducted in order to investigation of susceptibility of common grown cereals in Fars
province to H. filipjevi. Required soil for experiment was prepared from a naturally infested field in Abadeh Tashk,
Nayriz county. Cysts were counted from 100 cm3 subsamples by using of Fenwik can. Each clay pot was filled by five
liter soil, then disinfected seeds (with sodium hypochlorite 0.5% V/V) were sown in it. Experiment was assigned with
five treatments (bread wheat, durum wheat, barley, corn and millet), each with three replicates and then pots were
arranged in a completely randomized design. Plants were grown in greenhouse with 20-25 C and were irrigated at four
days intervals, during a six months period.
For calculation of final population, aerial parts of plants were cutted and then number of cysts (100 cm3 soil) or eggs+J2
(per cyst or cm3 soil) were determined by using of Fenwik can. Averages were compared by using of the MSTATC
software program, based on Tukeys test (p<0.05) and finally, susceptible or resistant hosts to H. filipjevi were
determined.
Table 1. Physico-chemical characteristics of infested soil to H. filipjevi.

Physico-chemical feature
K (Av.)
P (Av.)
O.C%
T.N.V%
pH
E.C
Clay
Loam
Sand
Texture

value
225
7.93
0.64
17
7.94
2.96
7.4
29
63.6
sandy loamy

III.

RESULTS

In field microplots trial, nematode developed only one generation per growing season and was completed its life cycle
during about seven months (Table 2). The results of the greenhouse experiment indicated that bread wheat is a very good
host for H. filipjevi; furthermore, barley and durum wheat also were relatively susceptible hosts for this nematode, while
corn and millet showed relative resistance in response to nematode attacks (Fig. 1).
Table 2. Life cycle of Heterodera filipjevi on the winter wheat cv. Shiraz in microplot under field condition.

Life cycle phases of nematode

Penetration of J2 in the roots
J3 in roots
J4 in roots
Males in soil
Females adhered to the roots
Cysts in soil

Days after wheat sowing

60
110
120
127
134
197

165

Monthly total
precipitation (mm)
50.5
3
0
0
0
1

Average monthly
temperature(o c)
3.26
12.7
21.75
21.75
27
29.35

Sonia Seifi et al. World Applied Programming, Vol (3), No (4), April 2013.

Figure 1. The effect of different cereals on population densities of Heterodera filipjevi under greenhouse condition.
-Numbers that have same letter are not significantly differences (p < 0.05)
- The numbers are average of three replications

IV.

CONCLUSION

Previous studies concluded that eggs of H. avenae may be started hatching at 7-15 C and hatching of the eggs from a
cyst may be vary between 40 to 90 percent (3,15); in present survey, hatching was occurred within initial eight weeks
after plant cultivation, at comparable lower temperatures (2-6 C) to that of H. avenae. However, first juveniles were
found in the rhizosphere in late December, that this was with delay in comparison with other population of H. filipjevi in
Iran (6), but was similar with observations on same species in Turkey (18) and also those on H. latipons in Israel (10)
and Cyprus (14). Moreover, the life cycle of H. filipjevi was completed within 197 days in present study that this also
was longer than 155 days that mentioned in Hajihasani and Tanha Maafi, 2009. (Fig.2).
In present study, all five tested plants were considered as hosts for H. filipjevi, that this was consistent with the results of
previous studies (4, 16); these authors showed that oat, bread wheat, spring barley and winter barley were the most
susceptible hosts. Moreover, the results of present research indicated that bread wheat was considered as the most
susceptible host for H. filipjevi. Durum wheat and barley showed lower levels of susceptibility, when compared with
bread wheat; while it was showed that Cereal cyst nematode could not be proceed to high populations on millet or corn,
plants that are commonly cultivated in many regions of Fars province. It keep in mind that these plants may have been
important roles as alternate hosts for cereal cyst nematodes; nevertheless, cultivation of these plants was recommended
in rotations with wheat or barley, because temperatures during growing season of these plants were not suitable for
nematode hatching or invasion.
Present greenhouse experiment showed that corn was a resistant host for H. filipjevi. Some researchers considered corn
as one of the good hosts for H. avenae (21), but in another study (5), authors established that the second juveniles of this
species may be penetrated to inside the roots of some plants such as sorghum or corn, but subsequently, development of
cysts and syncytia will be suppressed in response to nematode attack. Resistance of such plants may be due to necrotic
tissues responses that have inhibiting effects on the nematode development. The resistant plants usually induce syncytia;
however, these syncytia reveal atypical features during their development that lead to their necrosis, or they are
surrounded by necrotic cells that result in syncytium degradation. Depending on the timing of the resistant response in
such syncytia, no development of juveniles beyond the second- or third-developmental stage occurs, or only adult males
develop (19). In some instances, especially in hosts with lower level of resistance, although cysts may be observed in
high numbers, but they produce few eggs, in the comparison with those on susceptible plants such as wheat or barley.

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Figure 2. A: Nematode eggs B: Penetration of J2s in the roots C-E: Juvenile stages of Heterodera filipjevi F: Mature female

Crop rotations with non-hosts are one of the most effective approaches for management of cereal cyst nematodes.
However, to maximize the effect of the crop rotation, host weeds of the nematode should be controlled in field (13). In
present survey, all stages of the nematode were observed on different poaceous weeds, especially in high numbers on
wild barley (Hordeum spontoneum). Chemical or cultural control of these weeds during growing season or plugging
them under soil during fallow seasons (as green manure) may be used as effective management options against cereal
cyst nematodes. However, some further greenhouse or field studies may be necessary for understanding the more aspects
on the biology and pathogenicity of these groups of nematodes in cereal production systems.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This research was part of a project supported by the Shiraz University. Shiraz, Iran. The author grateful to Drs Akbar
Kargar bideh and Zia Banihashemi for advice.

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[1]
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[19]
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