Indian Journal of Nematology
Year : 1981, Volume : 11, Issue : 1
First page : ( 106) Last page : ( 107)
Print ISSN : 0303-6960.

Histopathological studies of maize cyst nematode Heterodera zeae on maize

Verma A. C., Yadav B. S., Pathak A. K.

Department of Nematology, Rajasthan College of Agriculture Udaipur.

Presented at Nematology Symposium held at Coimbatore, India in February, 1981

Abstract

Histopathological changes in maize roots were studied when inoculated with the maize cyst nematode, Heterodera zeae. Second stage larvae mostly oriented parallel to longitudinal axis in the cortex and moved intracellularly as indicated by broken cell walls posterior to the nematode. Cell walls surrounding nematode were dissolved to from a funnel and multinucleate condition was observed indicating early stages in syncytial formation. Enlarged cells bordered by darkened and thickened cell walls and hypertrophy of cortical, pericycle and endodermal cells resulting in giant cells were observed. Nematode presence accounted for active cell division. Nematodes, mostly oriented in cortex, had heads thrust in stele and formed large, multinucleate syncytial cells with dense granular cytoplasm. Nematodes enlarged forming necrotic area near feeding sites and finally pushed the cortical cells to sides, resulting in complete mechanical injury.

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