Abstract
The beet cyst nematode (BCN) was one of the first discovered plant parasitic nematodes. Heterodera schachtii was observed in 1859 in Halle in Central Germany by the botanist Herman Schacht and described later by Adolf Schmidt in 1871, who named this cyst nematode species after its original discoverer. Partly due to the lack of knowledge about the effect of sugar beet monocultures on the population build-up of BCN, this nematode had a devastating impact on sugar production in 1876 that led to the shutdown of 24 sugar factories in Germany. This chapter discusses the economic importance, distribution, host range, damage symptoms, biology and life cycle, interactions with other nematodes and pathogens, recommended integrated management, and management optimization of H. schachtii. Future research requirements and future developments are also mentioned.