Method for extracting nematode cysts of the family Heteroderidae from sandy loam soil

The method of extracting nematodes from the soil developed by Jenkins was combined with the Coolen and D’Herde technique with the aim of optimising the extraction of heteroderid cysts from the soil. In addition to the soil, the combined methodology employs 40-mesh (420 μm) and 200-mesh (74 μm) sieves, kaolin and sucrose. Using this method, it is possible to obtain quickly almost four times the number of cysts in an almost clear suspension, compared to the traditional method of cyst-extraction devised by Shepherd.