Life cycle of Heterodera sorghi on maize

The life cycle studies of H. sorghi carried out on maize (Zea mays L.) cultivar Deccan-103 indicated that the nematode is able to complete its life cycle from the second-stage juvenile (5–2) to next generation 5–2 in 24 days at a temperature range of 28–36°C. The emergence of 5–2 was immediate even before the cysts turned into yellow or brown stage. Males were observed 11 days after inoculation. Majority of the eggs were retained in the cyst body while the loosely attached gelatinous egg sac contained very few (upto 13) eggs as against 275 inside the cyst. More than 4 generations may be completed by nematode in maize cropping season of 100–110 days duration during Kharif season.