This study was carried out to find out the effect of water stress (RDI) on multiplication of plant parasitic nematodes on grapevines. The responses to irrigation treatments were not significantly different in relation to new root growth, root dry weight and total number of parasitic nematodes, however significant differences in the density of Meloidogyne javanica in the soil between daily irrigation and the treatment with water stress (RDI). The main effect of inoculum type was significant, and the water treatments significantly affected total root growth between the nematode treatments, as well as M. javanica density in the soil in the nematode treatments. The daily irrigation treatment with Pratylenchus spp. had the least root growth but was not significantly different to root growth in the RDI treatment with Pratylenchus spp. Similarly with RDI, there was no significant difference in root growth in treatments receiving combined nematode inoculum between daily irrigation and RDI. However, root growth in treatments receiving M. javanica in RDI was significantly greater than those receiving M. javanica with daily irrigation. Under RDI treatment, the number of M. javanica recovered from soil receiving M. javanica inoculum was significantly greater than under daily irrigation. However, there was no significant difference between daily irrigation and RDI in the number of M. javanica or Pratylenchus recovered from soil receiving the combined treatment or in Pratylenchus recovered from soil in the Pratylenchus treatment.