Differences in Pathogenicity to Banana (Musa Sp., Cv. Poyo) Among Isolates of Radopholus similis from Different Production Areas of the World

Abstract

The pathogenicity to banana of six isolates of Radopholus similis, collected in different banana production areas, was tested in pots under controlled conditions in a climatic chamber. Nematodes that had been reared monoxenically on carrot discs were inoculated to banana plantlets (AAA, cv. Poyo) produced through in vitro micropropagation. Isolates from Sri Lanka and Martinique had no significant effect on plant growth whereas isolates from Guadeloupe, Costa Rica, Kenya, and Ivory Coast significantly suppressed growth. The isolate from Ivory Coast was the most pathogenic. These results confirm the existence of large biological variability among geographically separated populations of R. similis.