Population genetics of the cereal cyst nematode Heterodera avenae reveal geographical segregation and host adaptation

Cereal cyst nematodes (CCNs) lead to major losses in the cereal crop industry worldwide and have been reported in many provinces of China. However, this plant nematode’s distribution and genetic differences are not fully understood. In the present study, 821 soil and host root samples were collected from 16 provinces in 2019–2022 to investigate the distribution of the CCNs. Heterodera avenae was detected in 56.39