Sugar cane cyst nematode (Heterodera sacchari) is a nematode pest. It is a native of Africa and some Asian countries.
Cysts are persistent tanned sacs derived from the female body and contain the eggs. Cysts persist in soil for many years. Juveniles emerge from the cysts, penetrate host roots and establish a specialized feeding site. They develop into swollen females, which retain the eggs and produce large egg masses. Females rupture root cortex and protrude from root surface. At the end of the reproductive phase, females die and become ovoid brown to dark brown cysts. This nematode is a pest of rice and it is feared to be a serious pest of sugarcane.
For more information about this plant pest, see the CAPS data sheet.