"November 2002" / Bibliography: leaves 155-176. / xv, 176 leaves : ill. (some col.), plates (col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Studies were conducted to develop soil sampling, detection and quantification techniques for Meloidogyne spp.. (root-knot nematodes, RKN) in vineyards. A survey was conducted in vineyards of South Australia (SA) to validate a DNA based quantification method for RKN and to determine the population structure fo RKN across the grapevine growing areas of SA. The effect of different RKN densities on vine growth during their establishment was also determined. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Applied and Molecular Ecology, 2003