Even if 100 percent of nematodes could be eradicated before death of plants, there is always a chance that a few nematodes would survive and you could infest a clean site. Destroy old asparagus plants and start with clean crowns. Sanitation is imperative. Clean and dry all equipment used in the infested site before working in clean sites. Avoid moving any plants or soil from the infested site. Soil moved by water erosion can also move nematode eggs and larvae.
Asparagus has been reported as a host of the southern root knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, the most common root knot species in home gardens and landscapes in southwest Texas. The larvae and adult females of this species burrow into roots where the females feed. Therefore, you cannot remove all nematodes by washing roots.
