Egg masses in plant roots were collected and eggs were
extracted from egg masses using the method described by
Hussey and Barker (1973) with some modiWcations. Root
pieces with galls were washed in running tap water for
3–5min to get rid of soil and placed under a dissecting
microscope. Roots were dissected with a dissecting needle,
and egg masses and females were picked up from the root
surface and dissected roots with a forceps. The females and
egg masses were treated with 1% sodium hypochlorite
(NaOCl) for 1min to surface-disinfest and release the eggs
from masses. The eggs in the NaOCl solution were passed
through a 200 m-aperture sieve and collected on a 30 maperture
sieve, and females were collected on a 200-maperture
sieve. Free eggs retained on the 30-m-aperture or
females on the 200-m-aperture sieves were washed three
times with sterile distilled water to remove residual NaOCl.
To isolate more parasites and avoid contamination, females
were broken into several fragments with a sterile forceps.
About 100 eggs or fragments from 8 females were smeared