Studies on life stages of reniform nematode, Rotylenchulus reniformis on papaya

The study of life cycle consisted of the embryonic and the post embryonic development of reniform nematode. The eggmasses were collected from R. reniformis infested papaya roots and observations were made on embryonic and post embryonic developmental stages. The embryonic development was completed in 3 to 4 days and the eggs hatched from 3^rd day and continued upto 7^th day. The second stage juveniles remained in water until they developed into fourth stage juveniles or the pre-adults which were formed after 12 to 14 days. The pre-adults are the infective stages of reniform nematode. The pre-adults were then inoculated in papaya seedlings and developed into matured females with laying eggs on 12^th day of inoculation. Hence, the total life cycle was found to be 25 to 26 days from egg to egg in papaya.