The invasion, development and number of generations of Heterodera goettingiana in pea plants were examined in a glasshouse experiment after plants were treated with herbicides, recommended for pea cultivation (terbutryn + terbuthylazine, methabenz rhiazuron, prometryne, bentazone, cyanazine, pendimethalin, benthiocarb and fluazifop-butyl). There was a non-target effect of herbicides. Prometryne, cyanazine and benthiocarb reduced female number in the roots. This effect may be due to the inhibition of hatching or/and retardation of female development.