[4] Efforts to study these nematodes in more detail have proved problematic in some species due to difficulties in maintaining populations in a greenhouse environment.

(He 2003) Xiphinema americanum was the first species to be described by Nathan Cobb in 1913, who speculated that it was likely a plant pathogen.

Two economically important Xiphinema species, X.index and X.americanum, are both commonly found in California and tend to be problematic in vineyards.

[3] Xiphinema has a very wide host range including crops of high economic importance such as grape, hops and strawberry.

Other documented hosts include: Nectarine, oak, rose, grapevine, raspberry, carrot, cherry, peach, and soybean.