Abstract
SUMMARY: Soil sampling for Xiphinema diversicaudatum (Micol.) Thorne over several years suggested that arabis mosaic virus was spreading through an elm woodland into an adjoining pasture. The rate of spread was estimated to be 11 m/year. Nematode movement was not believed to be entirely responsible for such a relatively high rate; other contributory factors were thought to be systemic movement of virus within root systems and the dissemination of virus‐infected seed.