Evaluation of Banana Hybrids Against Burrowing Nematodes, Radopholus Similis

The burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis, is a serious threat to sustainable banana production worldwide. Nematode cause damage to the root and corm, the affected plants occurrence impaired absorption of water and nutrients. Cultural and chemical management cannot guarantee full control. An alternative is to develop new banana hybrids with resistance to burrowing nematode. The twenty four new synthetic banana hybrids were screened under artificially inoculated pot condition for their reaction and resistance mechanism against R. similis. Five hybrids namely, H 912, H 914, H 916, H 926, H 943 were rated resistance to R. similis based on the nematode multiplication, lowest root lesion and corm lesion index. The biochemical changes in root content of phenols, ortho-dihydroxy phenol, lignin, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase of the hybrids in defense mechanism in response to nematode invasion indicated higher activities in resistance plants viz-a-viz susceptible ones.