Nematodes are regarded as a major pest of cotton in many parts of the world. It has been claimed that "nematodes cause economic losses to cotton everywhere it is grown" (Watkins. 1981). Apart from yield reductions resulting from nematode activity alone, nematodes are often involved in interactions with other plant pathogens. The interaction between fusarium wilt and the root knot nematode is well documented. Nematodes usually are favoured by well drained light-textured soils. In recent years plant parasitic nematodes have been found in wheat growing on the heavy textured soils of north-west NSW.