Vertical and Horizontal Distribution of Plant Parasitic Nematodes Associated with Banana

An experiment was conducted at farmer's field to determine the vertical and horizontal distribution of root-lesion nematode, Pratylenchus coffeae and other major nematodes on banana in cv. Nendran. Periodic sampling was done from banana garden once in a month from vegetative to harvesting stages by using a 2.5 cm diam. soil auger at a distance of 25, 50 and 75 cm away from the base of the corm at different depths. The results revealed that the maximum nematode population was recorded at flowering stage followed by harvesting stage at a distance of 25 cm and 50 cm from the base of the corm with a depth of 26–50 cm. Negligible or nil population was noticed at a distance of 75 cm from the base of the corm at a depth of 51–75 cm. This clearly showed that the population build-up of major banana nematodes like P. coffeae, M. incognita and H. multicinctus and other nematodes would greatly vary depending on the distance, depth and availability of susceptible roots in banana plants.