Eight oat varieties were tested for tolerance to the nematode ditylenchus dipsaci, the causal agent of tulip root in coastal areas of southern California. The field in which the varieties were to be tested had been planted to oats for several years. A subtreatment of preplant soil fumigation with 1,3 dichloropropene was used for the purpose of better evaluation of varietal tolerance. Field varieties Curt and Moregrain performed well in yields of grain and straw, and the varieties Kanota and Sierra, commonly grown in the area, were severely injured by Ditylenchus dipsaci. The fumigation treatment increased both grain and straw yields of some varieties; however, the increase was not economically significant and cannot be recommended for control of Ditylenchus dipsaci for oats. The variety Curt, which was found to be extremely tolerant in this trial, is now recommended where this nematode has been found in the coastal areas of California.