Research Notes: Manejo y Fluctuaciones Poblacionales de Helicotylenchus multicinctus y Meloidogyne incognita en Banano en Venezuela

Abstract

Two and a half-year-old banana (Musa AAA) cv. Giant Cavendish plants infected with H. multicinctus and M. incognita were treated with two applications of ethoprop in May and November 1991 and 1992 at rates of 2.25, 3.00 and 4.00 g a.i./plant. All treatments suppressed densities of both nematodes in the root during two years but did not have any effect on banana yield during the first year. Weight of banana bunches from plants treated with ethoprop at 2.25 a.i./plant were greater (P 0.05) compared to those of the untreated controls. Densities of H. multicinctus in the roots one month before harvest and total water (rainfall + irrigation) showed a negative correlation (r = -0.59) in 1991-1992 and positive correlation (r = +0.67) in 1992-1993. Fluctuations of root and soil densities of M. incognila was erratic and was not influenced by rainfall and irrigation. Fluctuations of soil densities of H. multicinctus was similar.