Burrowing nematode Radopholus similis associated with banana crop in Madhya Pradesh

Five plant parasitic nematodes were identified as key pests of banana in Madhya Pradesh. Spiral nematode, Helicotylenchus muliticinctus was encountered in each locality. Relative density and total biomass u/mg soil of H. multicinctus was maximum in Nimar plateau. Lesion nematode, Pratylenchus coffeae was noticed in each agro climatic zones except Nimar plateau, whereas Radopholus similis was predominant in Malwa and Chhatisgarh plains. Cultivars Robusta and Basai (Bhusavali) were more prone to spiral and burrowing nematodes as they exhibited typical symptoms in most of the surveyed fields.