Life Cycle of Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne graminicola on Wheat

Life cycle of Meloidogyne graminicola revealed that one generation of nematode could be completed in 23 days during the month of February and March in Agricultural Research Farm, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, BHU, Varanasi. In October-sown plants, second stage juveniles (J2) readily penetrated roots, developed to adult females in 15 days and started laying eggs in 16 days. However, majority of eggs hatched only in the month of February. The details of life cycle are as follows: penetration (24 hours), gall formation (48 hours), second stage juveniles (J2) (2^nd day), J2 moulting (7^th day), J3 stage (8^th or 9^th day), J3 moulting (11^th day), J4 stage (12–13^th day), J4 moulting (15^th day), adult male (14^th day), adult female (15^th day), egg laying (16^th day) and J2 juveniles (23^rd days) were released.