Six geographically diverse cultivars of rye (Secale cereale), a wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivar and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) cultivar unstated were screened for Meloidogyne incognita host suitability. Chemical constituents of rye can suppress M. incognita, so the rye cultivars and wheat were also tested for benzoxazinoid content to determine if rye cultivar selection could be based upon plant chemistry. There was variation in M. incognita host status among the rye cultivars. Cultivars Aroostook, Elbon, Oklon and Wrens Abruzzi were the most resistant rye cultivars, with low numbers of M. incognita eggs/g dry root. Cultivar Wheeler had somewhat more eggs/g root than these cultivars, while cv. Merced supported nearly three times more eggs/g root than cv. Wheeler. Most of the rye cultivars were similar to each other in total benzoxazinoid content, although cv. Aroostook had the lowest amount of total benzoxazinoids. When data from roots and shoots were combined, more than 79% of the total benzoxazinoids in all six of the rye cultivars were comprised of the non-methoxy-substituted forms: i)