Reproduction of the beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii Schm. on transformed root cultures of Beta vulgaris L.

Transformed hairy root cultures of Beta vulgaris L., grown in petri-dishes, were inoculated with a suspension of surface-sterilized larvae of the beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii Schm. Larvae developed into both male and female adults. Juvenile larvae were hatched from the newly-formed cysts, indicating that fertilization had occurred. Results of a glasshouse test showed that H. schachtii did not lose its pathogenicity after being cultured on transformed roots. This technique can be developed further for the mass-propagation of sedentary nematodes and for the in vitro storage of isclates.