AbstractThis chapter covers the life cycle, behaviour, hatching, pathotypes and races, biochemical and molecular diagnosis, and management and control (through cultural, biological, chemical and integrated control, and crop resistance) of cyst nematodes (Heterodera avenae, H. schachtii, H. glycines, H. goettingiana, Globodera rostochiensis, Punctodera punctata and Cactodera, Dolichodera, Afenestrata and Betulodera spp.). The general morphology of species under subfamily Heteroderinae, and the interaction of cyst nematodes with plant pathogens are described.