Biology and pathogenicity of cereal cyst nematodes on wheat in Ismailia, Egypt

A survey on cereal cyst nematodes (CCN) was carried out in wheat production areas in Ismailia province, Egypt. CCN were found in five out of seven regions in Ismailia. The highest incidence of CCN was found at El Shark location (West Sinai). All Egyptian populations were identified as Heterodera avenae based on morphometrics of cyst vulval cones and second stage juveniles. The Egyptian populations of H. avenae were related to H. avenae populations belonging to Type B based on ITS-RFLP patterns generated by restriction enzymes while a German population (Grafenreuth) of H. avenae was found related to Type A. Analyses of ITS region sequences confirmed the species identification of the Egyptian populations.