Integrated Management Of Banana Nematodes

Abstract

Botanical and economical backgrounds on dessert and non-dessert bananas, together with basic concepts for nematode management, are provided, including the geographic distribution of main banana nematode species in Asia, Oceania, Africa and Americas. Basic studies on the biology, damage, economic importance and control of nematodes are then discussed, with reference to the burrowing nematode Radopholus similis, the lesion nematodes Pratylenchus spp., root-knot nematodes Meloidogyne spp., and the spiral nematode Helicotylenchus multicinctus. The use of nematicides is reviewed and the research on alternatives to chemical control is discussed. Current nematode management strategies focus on the use of clean planting material, fallow and alternate croppings, application of mulching and fertilisers. Future and common strategies include best plant health measures, the identification of sources of resistance and plant defence mechanisms, including transgenic resistance. Other management strategies concern biological control through soil treatment with microbial antagonists, induction of in- planta suppressiveness and improvements in cultural practices. Tolerance to nematodes, use of new synthetic banana hybrids and their response to parasitism are also reviewed