A pot culture experiment with 8 banana clones, comprising 5 hybrids and 3 diploid parents, was conducted to study the biochemical alterations induced by the burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis in banana (Musa sp.). The results revealed presence of higher quantities of phenols in the uninoculated roots of resistant clones than susceptible clone Matti. The amount of total protein, carbohydrates and sugars were more in the susceptible clone than other clones. Accumulation of phenols increased with the infestation of R. similis. Amount of total protein increased with the infection of nematodes. Decrease in the level of carbohydrates and increase in sugars was observed in the nematode infested roots.
Banana, Radopholus similis, resistance, biochemical alterations
