Studies on the nematodes associated with banana in Kerala

Abstract

A total of 120 samples of soil and 120 samples of roots of banana were collected from 15 localities between Vellayani in the south and Trichur in the north and their nematode fauna extracted and examined to asertain:- a) The genera of parasitic nematodes associated with banana and their distribution. b) Population of the nematodes (parasitic and non- parasitic) in the roots and soil of banana in relation to whether the plant is healthy or diseased, the type of soil and rainy or rain less seasons. The population of both parasitic and non-parasitic forms present in the soil is high during rainy season than during rainless season , irrespective of the soil type and whether the plant is diseased or healthy. The soil population of parasitic forms is high in association with diseased plants in both the seasons and in all the five soil tracts surveyed. The population of non-parasitic fauna in the soil does not show much variation with respect to the condition of the plant.