Diversity of nematodes on banana (Musa spp.) in Kenya linked to altitude and with a focus on the pathogenicity of Pratylenchus goodeyi

Abstract

Summary Bananas (Musa spp.) are considered the most important fruit crop in Kenya, grown mostly by smallholder farmers. However, in the past two decades production has declined and has largely been attributed to plant pathogens, including plant-parasitic nematodes. To assess the understanding and awareness that banana farmers have of nematodes, a survey was conducted. The incidence, abundance and distribution of nematodes in relation to altitude were determined for different banana types on 180 farms and the pathogenicity of Pratylenchus goodeyi, originating from three different altitudinal locations, was compared on two banana cultivars. Just 2.3% of farmers were aware of nematode damage and symptoms, none of whom applied any management measures. The highest abundance of nematodes was recorded at an altitude range of 1601-2000 m a.s.l., with Pratylenchus, Meloidogyne and Helicotylenchus being the predominant genera. Across all altitudinal locations, cooking banana had higher densities of nematodes than dessert bananas. In pots, P. goodeyi populations from Embu (1300 m a.s.l.) appeared more aggressive and with higher levels of multiplication than the population from Oyugis (1100 m a.s.l.). Cooking banana (‘Ng’ombe’) was more susceptible than dessert banana (‘Sukari Ndizi’). Nematode damage is more prominent in areas at higher altitude and on cooking banana cultivars. The findings provide key information in guiding informed and suitable management decision thresholds in relation to potential climate change.

Diversity of plant-parasitic nematodes in potato fields at different altitudes in Probolinggo District, East Java, Indonesia

“…In addition, the air pressure in regions that are higher in height tends to be lower than the air pressure in areas that are lower in altitude. Because nematodes are sensitive microorganisms, it is considered that these factors explain why there is a disparity in the total number of nematodes found at various elevations (Nyang'au et al 2021;Zhang et al 2021).…”

Diversity of Endophytic Fungi in Banana Cultivars of Assam India

“…are the most nematodes responsible for many diseases in banana variety, because banana varieties are the host of root-knot nematodes [3] . Although the nematodes or root-knot nematodes have a short life period, affecting host plants they can reduce yield capacity by 20-30% as well as make a rupture in the root, which helps the secondary pathogens enter [4,5] .…”

Endophytic Non-Pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum-Derived Dual Benefit for Nematode Management and Improved Banana (Musa spp.) Productivity

“…and Meloidogyne spp. create a combined community that affects bananas [9][10][11]. The community composition varies by locality, climate and banana genotype [10].…”

“…create a combined community that affects bananas [9][10][11]. The community composition varies by locality, climate and banana genotype [10]. Most of the developmental stages of the weevil (eggs, larvae and pupa) are found in the corms of infested plants, while the adults are found in crop residues, sheltering in or around the corms, and between the leaf sheaths in close association with the banana corms.…”