Development of Heterodera glycines Life Stages as Influenced by Temperature

The effects of temperature on rates of development of Heterodera glycines egg and juvenile stages were examined as a basis for predicting generation times of the nematode on soybean. The relationship of temperature to H. glycines embryonic development between 15 and 30 C was described by a linear model, The calculated basal temperature threshold was 5 C. Thermal optimum for embryogenesis and hatch with low mortality was 24 C. Development proceeded to first-stage juvenile at 10 C and to second-stage juvenile at 15-30 C. Hatch occurred at 20-30 C. At 36 C, development proceeded to the four-cell stage, then the eggs died. The range of diurnal soil temperature fluctuation and accumulated degree-days between 5 and 30 C (DD5/30) had an impact on rate of development of juveniles in soybean roots. From early June to early July, H. glycines required 534 + 24 DD5/30 (4 weeks) to complete a life cycle in the field. During the midseason (July and August), life cycles were completed in 3 weeks and 429 +/- 24 DD5/30 were accumulated. Late in the season (September to November), declining soil temperatures were associated with generation times of 4 weeks and slower rates of development.