Nematodes associated with different cultivars of banana

Abstract

Root systems and surrounding soil of sixteen banana (Musa) cultivars from the cultivars colletion of the Empresa Capixaba de Pesquisa Agropecuária - EMCAPA -, cultivated at the Experimental Station of Jucuruaba in the Viana region of Espírito Santo, Brazil, were studied to evaluate qualitatively and quantitatively populations of plant parasitic nematodes. From sixteen cultivars - Prata, Prata Maçã, Figo Vermelho, Piruá, IC-2, Ourinho, Roxa, Leite, Ouro Mel, Maçã, Gros - Michel, Figo Cinza, CV-I, CV-II, CV-XIV and CV-XV - samples of roots and soil taken from the rhizosphere were collected and processed by Baermann (modified) and Jenkins floatation and centrifugation methods. The occurrence of more than three species of plant parasitic nematodes from a single cultivar was a common feature. Radopholus similis was present in 62.50% of the samples of cultivars reaching very high population in the Piruá, Ouro Mel, Prata and Gros-Michel cultivars. The spiral nematodes Helicotylenchus multicinctus and Helicotylenchus dihystera were present in 50% and 68.75% of the samples respectively. In spite of being found in high frequency, the populations were lower than R. similis populations. Other species determined were Meloidogyne incognita, Rotylenchulus reniformis, Criconemella ornata and Ditylenchus sp. showing variable degrees of infestation.