Genus Xiphinema

Dagger Nematode

Most important species: X. index

• Major hosts: woody plants, tree fruits, soybean, corn, and some cereals
• sedentary ectoparasite feeds at or near root tips, may cause slight galling and necrosis
• X. index is a problem on grapes and also vectors grapevine fanleaf (GVFL) virus
• large nematode, long stylet, feeds deeply
• very long life cycle: several months to 2 years
• causes "giant cells and galls" like RKN, and necrosis
• giant cells caused by karyokinesis without cytokinesis yeilding mutinucleate cells
• cessation of root growth caused by less than 12 hrs of feeding
• root swelling may continue after feeding has stopped