The susceptibility and sensitivity to Radopholus similis and Helicotylenchus multicinctus of 2-month-old plants derived from sword suckers (early screening) and of sword suckers of established 18-month-old mats belonging to 12 Musa genotypes was investigated and compared. Differences in nematode population densities and root damage (number of functional roots, percentage of dead roots and necrosis) were observed between the two evaluation trials which suggests a different host plant response to nematode attack of young root systems compared to older root systems. Therefore, for early screening, it is proposed that sword sucker derived plants be grown in nematode-free soil for at least 8-10 weeks to enable the plants to develop mature root systems, comparable to those of sword suckers from established mats.
