Theses and Dissertations Collection

The cereal cyst nematode, Heterodera avenae Woll is an important nematode on wheat in Idaho and causes significant losses in production in infested fields. Hatching behavior is a key factor in the infection process of H. avenae and is primarily driven by temperature. Cold soil temperature is required to break dormancy and induce hatching. Hatching of H. avenae second stage juveniles (J2) was induced by extended periods of low soil temperatures. Both dormant eggs and encysted eggs were induced to hatch after exposure to 4℃. Hatched (J2) and developed white females from dormant eggs increased at 4℃ with increasing storing periods from two to eight weeks. No hatching of J2 and development of white females occurred when dormant encysted eggs were stored at 20℃ for any storing periods. The recorded hatching percentages of J2 of H. avenae were low and did not exceed 11%. The developed white females were found on the wheat roots 9 weeks after emergence of seedlings. Inducing hatching of dormant eggs and encysted eggs of H. avenae by low temperature exposure provides an alternative source of inoculum to naturally infested soil.