Infestation of Cereals by Cyst Nematodes of the Genus Heterodera (Nematoda: Heteroderidae) in Chlef Area (Algeria)

Background: The investigation was conducted in the wilaya of chlef, on the presence and distribution of cereal cyst nematodes of the genus Heterodera. The experiment carried out is intended to estimate the effect of the wheat crop on the distribution of the Heterodera spp. Methods: Seventy-two (72) soil samples were collected from 4 wheat-growing regions. Through a field survey, we studied how soil nematode community densities distributed at two soil depths (0-5 cm and 5-20 cm). Result: The results revealed that the nematodes were present in all regions and in 59 soil samples (81.94 %). The frequencies of infestations calculated are variable from plot to plot. The highest frequencies were recorded in the regions of Chetia (77.77%) and Boukadir (66.66%) and the lowest were noted in the plots of Sobha and Ouled Fares with an average of 11.11%. The cyst densities varied from one plot to another, ranging from 0 to 33 cysts/100 g of soil, which corresponds to an average range of 0.26 to 11.72 eggs and larvae/g of soil. From the infested samples, 30.55% had a population density of fewer than 10 eggs and larvae/g soil.