Survival of Radopholus similes in host free soil

The burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis, population survived in air dried soil (moisture range 0.1 to 1.0 per cent) for a period of 3 months. Under moist conditions (irrigated regularly), active nematode population could be recoveredupto 15 months. The nematode infested coconut roots did not harbour active population after a period of one month in dry soil and two months in moist soil, but the population that had come out from the severed roots survived under field conditions, for 6 months in moist soil and only one month in dry soil.