Effects of banana-parasitic nematodes on Musa acuminata (AAA group) cvs. Poyo and Gros Mitchel vitro plants

Abstract

Three nematode parasites of bananas, Radopholus similis, Helicotylenchus multicinctus, and Hoplolaimus pararobustus, were inoculated on vitro plants of Musa acuminata (AAA triploid) cvs. 'Poyo' and 'Gros Michel' grown in the greenhouse under tropical climatic conditions. The study showed that the effects of nematodes on banana growth parameters, and on chlorophyll and nutrient content of the leaves differed according to nematode species and banana cultivar. It was confirmed that Gros Michel is more tolerant than Poyo to R. similis, but it appeared that the two cultivars were approximatively as susceptible to H. multicinctus and H. pararobustus. Agronomic responses of bananas are therefore specific to phytoparasitic nematodes.