BLACK EGG DISEASE OF HETERODERA AVENAE IN HARYANA (INDIA) AND THE ROLE OF FUNGAL PARASITES IN THE NATURAL REGULATION OF NEMATODE POPULATIONS
Authors
R. K. Walia
M. R. Dalal
Abstract
A survey of Heterodera avenae infested fields in Haryana (India) revealed the widespread prevalence of black eggs disease which infected up to 100% of the eggs in the old cysts. The fungus mycelium appeared dark with thick-walled, brownish, swollen and yeast-like cells. The fungus infected the embryos within the eggs shell. Infection of the new progeny of cysts occurred during July to September and the black yeast fungus destroyed 13-14% of the eggs in a field study. Some other fungal parasites attacked newly emerged females of H. avenae, as many as 26.3% females/white cysts were destroyed by a zoosporic fungus in a naturally infested field soil.