Heavily infested plantings decline rapidly. Root-knot nematodes cause the formation of knots or galls on fine roots. Other types do not form such distinct root symptoms. Infested roots are not well developed. Lateral roots may be few.
Roots attacked by lesion nematodes are dark in color.
The dagger nematode is the vector of tomato ring-spot virus, which it can acquire from common weed hosts, such as dandelion. Their effect on strawberries is not known.