Chromosomes of the Potato Root Eelworm

Abstract

THE systematics of the cyst-forming eelworms of the genus Heterodera are difficult, and in several cases distinctions between species depend largely on the host-range of the eelworms. In the taxonomy of the higher plants, chromosome numbers have often been useful in determining the limits of species and the relations between species in difficult groups. It was therefore thought that an investigation of the chromosomes of Heterodera species might be valuable. Details are given below of a technique that can be used for determining the chromosome number of the potato root eelworm, Heterodera rostochiensis Woll.