An improved method for whole-mount in situ hybridization of Heterodera schachtii juveniles.

An optimized protocol is presented to visualize gene expression in the sedentary beet cyst nematode, Heterodera schachtii, by whole-mount in situ hybridization. Two different probes were used for genes with known expression pattern in other nematodes. Vacuum infiltration of the fixative significantly increased its efficiency and resulted in a nicely preserved morphology. Additional modifications were introduced to simplify and standardize the process.