Two trials were established to determine the effects of Meloidogyne hapla on young kiwi plants. Grafted plants of 18 and 24 months were inoculated with increasing population densities from 0 to 78 700 and 0 to 500 000 nematodes per plant and evaluated at 36 and 55 weeks after inoculation, respectively. In both trials there was a positive relationship between the initial population (Pi) in the soil, galling, and final population densities found in roots and soil with Pi levels lower than 78 700 nematodes. The highest reproduction rate was obtained with 750 and 10 000 nematodes per plant for both trials, respectively. Significant differences were found in root and shoot growth only between uninoculated controls and plants inoculated with 500 000 nematodes per plant for dry weights of aerial parts measured in the first season (36 weeks) and at the beginning of the second season (55 weeks). Results obtained in this study indicate tolerance of kiwi to M. hapla for population densities low
