The occurrence of biotypes of the cereal cyst nematode (Heterodera avenae Woll.) in Victoria

Abstract

Ten cereal cyst nematode (Heterodera avenae Woll.) populations from the Victorian Mallee and Wimmera districts, were tested for their variation in pathogenicity, using a selected range of indicator varieties. Of the oats used, Avena sterilis and A. strigosa were resistant to all populations, while A. abyssinica and CV. Sun II were both susceptible. None of the cultivars of barley or wheat was resistant ; the spring wheat CV. Loros was very susceptible. Rye CV. South Australian was resistant to all populations. The results presented indicate that only one biotype of H. avenae is present in Victoria, and that it is unlike any of those known to occur in Europe.