It is an especially important pest of bananas, and it can be found on coconut, avocado, coffee, sugarcane, other grasses, and ornamentals.

It is one of the most important root pathogens of banana crops,[2] causing yield losses of up to 30 to 60% in many countries.

Large infection rates are fairly recent, as global trade and commercialization of crops gained popularity.

Common hosts that are economically important include: banana, coconut, coffee, ginger, sugarcane, ornamentals, and tea.

[6] They are migratory endoparasites, and therefore can cause many localized necrotic patches throughout an infected root system.

The male has a poorly developed stylet, a knob-like head, and a sharp, curved spicule enclosed in a sac.

The roots also fail to supply the plant with water and nutrients, causing reduced growth and development.

There is continuing research being performed regarding resistant varieties, especially exploring hybrid genotypes and new cultivars with decreased susceptibility.

[11] Resistant hosts cause the nematodes to be unable to survive and reproduce, decreasing the population.

There is evidence that mutualistic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi may reduce the susceptibility of plant hosts.

[5] Fallowing is used in a similar instance, but instead of rotating plant varieties, fields are simply only used every other year.

Applying environmental controls such as hot water or increased sun exposure to saplings before planting to desiccate any nematodes present.

[4] The Gros Michel variety was commercialized via monoculture, which caused it to be extremely susceptible to the Panama Disease.

It is notable as an early exemplar, along with Radopholus arabocoffeae,[15] of the alternative flatworm mitochondrial code.