Plant resistance to SCN is not complete. SCN can reproduce on at least 97 legume hosts and on 63 other plant species. Because of its adaptability, SCN can build up on previously resistant varieties. SCN can be suppressed but not eliminated. Nematodes are one of the largest, most diverse groups of multicellular organisms and are second only to insects in abundance.
Nematodes are animals that have a wormlike appearance.
Most nematodes are beneficial organisms that help decompose organic matter, releasing nutrients for plant uptake. SCN is a plant-parasitic nematode that changes shape as it goes through its life cycle. In the root, juveniles become males or females. Males return to the original wormlike shape and leave the roots in search of females. The majority of eggs remain within the cyst, where they are protected from desiccation and soil predation.