Methods for the Recovery and Counting of Cysts of Heterodera schachtii from Soil

Abstract

A method of recovering cysts from soils of not more than 10% water content is described. The method is continuous and the yield from it is only slightly lower than that from the dry flotation of soil. The yield was found to contain a slightly lower percentage of full cysts than that obtained by dry flotation but this drop was not considered sufficiently great to justify the drying of soil in large quantities. Quantities of soil in the neighbourhood of 1 cwt. can be handled continuously in a matter of two hours.