Screening of Banana Hybrids (4X) againstPratylenchus coffeae under field conditions

Eighteen new synthetic tetraploid banana hybrids and five parental banana clones were screened against the lesion nematode, Pratylenchus coffeae under field conditions, during 2000–2002. Sixteen hybrids were found to have less root and corm lesion index than the susceptible clones Redbanana and Robusta. The lowest nematode population and multiplication rate was recorded in H-02-29 followed by H-02-26, H-02-34 and Pisang Lilin among the parents. H-02-18 (25.80 pg/g) H-02-17 (24.41 pug) and H-02-25 (24.00 pglg) recorded higher content of chlorogenic acid, H-02-30 (641.23 pg/g) and H-02-18 (976 unitslminlg fresh weight) recorded higher content of bound phenol and phenylalanine ammonia lyase activity respectively.