The subset contains wheat materials that are tolerant to cereal cyst nematodes.

Many global reports have documented the economic importance of Heterotera avenae, especially in rainfed cereal monocultures. H. filipjevi is very likely to be economically important to cereals because of its widespread distribution (including Russia, Tadzhikistan, Iran, Turkey, India, and Sweden), and the yield loss documented in Turkey.

Cereal cyst nematodes are more readily detected on the roots of seedlings than on adult plants. The roots of infested plants develop frequent branches and swellings (cysts). The adult females, which are the size of a pinhead, are colored off-white when young, turning into dark brown cysts as they age. Seedlings weakened by nematodes often are invaded by soil-borne pathogens, especially root and crown rots. The host range of the group includes a wide range of both cultivated cereals and weed species. Leguminous plants are non-hosts, and offer a good rotation option for control.

Source: CIMMYT Wheat Germplasm Bank