19 Spatial Distribution of Nematode Population
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SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF NEMATODE POPULATION DENSITIES AND NEMATODE DAMAGE IN ROOTS OF THREE BANANA CULTIVARS IN UGANDA H. A. L. Talwana,1 P. R. Speijer,1 and D. De Waele2 International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), East and Southern Africa Regional Center (ES- ARC), Namulonge, P. O. Box 7878 Kampala, Uganda,1 and Laboratory of Tropical Crop Improve- ment, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kardinaal Mercierlaan 92, 3001 Heverlee, and Belgium.2 ABSTRACT Talwana, H. A. L., P. R. Speijer, and D. De Waele. 2000. Spatial distribution of nematode population densities and nematode damage in roots of three banana cultivars in Uganda. Nematropica 30:19-31. The spatial distribution of nematode populations and damage in roots of Nabusa (Musa AAA- group ‘Matooke’), Pisang Awak (Musa ABB) and Sukali Ndizi (Musa AB) three banana cultivars wide- ly grown in Uganda, was investigated at three locations, each with a distinctive nematode population and composition. At Namulonge, central Uganda, where Radopholus similis was the dominant nema- tode species, and at Ntungamo, southwestern Uganda, where Pratylenchus goodeyi was the dominant species, suckers were removed from established mats and assessed for nematode reproduction and damage. At Namulonge, Ntungamo, and Mbarara, southwestern Uganda, where R. similis and P. good- eyi coexist, suckers removed three months after planting were assessed for nematode reproduction and damage. Nematode population density distribution along the primary roots was observed to be random for both plant types of the three cultivars at all locations. An exception was recorded for three-month-old sucker-derived plants of all three cultivars at Mbarara, where higher P. goodeyi den- sities were recorded closer to the corm. Nematode densities in primary roots, secondary roots, and root tips were generally not significantly different for both plant types of a single cultivar except for three month old sucker-derived Pisang Awak plants at Ntungamo where higher Meloidogyne spp. den- sities were observed in the root tips. Consistently, nematode damage (root necrosis) was higher (P < 0.05) close to the corm than further along the primary roots, regardless of cultivar and location. Key words: East African highland bananas, Helicotylenchus multicinctus, Meloidogyne spp., nematode dam- age, Pratylenchus goodeyi, Radopholus similis, root necrosis, spatial distribution. RESUMEN Talwana, H. A. L., P. R. Speijer y D. De Waele. 2000. Distribución espacial de las densidades de ne- matodos y daño a raíces en tres variedades de banano en Uganda. Nematrópica 30:19-31. La distribución espacial de poblaciones de nematodos y el daño a las raíces en tres variedades de banano en Uganda; Nabusa (Musa AAA-grupo ‘Matooke’), Pisang Awak (Musa ABB) y Sukali Ndizi (Musa AB), fueron investigadas en tres localidades, cada una con una población y composición de nematodo distintiva. En Namulonge, Uganda central, donde Radopholus similis fue la especie de nem- atodo dominante, y en Ntungamo, suroeste de Uganda, donde lo fue Pratylenchus goodeyi, los hijos de plantaciones establecidas, fueron removidos y evaluados en cuanto a reproducción y daño de nem- atodo. En Namulonge, Ntungamo, y Mbarara, suroeste de Uganda, donde R. similis and P. goodeyi co- existen, los vástagos removidos tres meses después del plantío, también fueron evaluados para reproducción y daño de nematodos. La distribución de la densidad poblacional de nematodo a lo largo de las raíces primarias fue al azar, para ambos tipos de plantas, en las tres variedades y en todas las localidades. Una excepción se reportó con las plantas derivadas de los hijos de tres meses, en las tres variedades, en Mbarara, donde las mayores densidades de P. goodeyi fueron reportadas cerca del bulbo. Las densidades de nematodos en las raíces primarias, secundarias y en las puntas, general- mente no fueron diferentes para ambos tipos de plantas en una misma variedad, con la excepción de las plantas de Pisang Awak, derivadas de hijos de tres meses, en Ntungamo, donde las mayores den- 19 20 NEMATROPICA Vol. 30, No. 1, 2000 sidades poblacionales de Meloidogyne spp., fueron observadas en las puntas de la raíz. En forma con- sistente, el daño de los nematodos (necrosis de la raíz), fue significativamente mayor (P < 0.05) cerca del bulbo que más hacia las raíces primarias, independientemente de la variedad y la localización. Palabras claves: bananos del altiplano de Africa del este, daño de nematodo, distribución espacial, He- licotylenchus multicinctus, Meloidogyne spp., necrosis radical, Pratylenchus goodeyi, Radopholus similis. INTRODUCTION weaken plant anchorage. Nematode dam- age to bananas is associated with a reduc- Uganda is Africa’s leading producer and tion in bunch weight, loss of bunches due consumer of bananas with a daily per cap- to plant toppling, increase in crop cycle ita consumption ranging from 2.0 to 4.5 kg duration and decrease in plantation lon- (Rubaihayo and Gold, 1993). Eighty-five gevity (Gowen and Quénéhervé, 1990). percent of the bananas grown in Uganda are Nematode related yield losses in East Afri- East African highland bananas (Musa spp. can highland bananas may range from AAA-group); the other bananas belong 30% (Speijer et al., 1999a) to 50% (Speijer mainly to either the AB or ABB genome and Kajumba, 1996). groups (Karamura and Karamura, 1994). The most important and widespread Pisang Awak (local name: Kayinja), a brew- plant parasitic nematode species in Ugan- ing banana, is a commonly grown rep- da are Radopholus similis Cobb, Pratylenchus resentative of the ABB-group in Uganda goodeyi Sher and Allen, Helicotylenchus multi- while a commonly grown representative of cinctus (Cobb) Golden and Meloidogyne the AB-group is the dessert banana Sukali spp. (Bridge, 1988; Kashaija et al., 1994). Ndizi (Karamura and Karamura, 1994). Their distributions are influenced by alti- They are grown between elevations 890 to tude, with R. similis being dominant at low- 2 400 m. (Speijer et al., 1994). er altitudes (<1 400 m) and P. goodeyi being Banana production in Uganda has the dominant species at higher altitudes shown a steady decline per unit land area (>1 400 m). Helicotylenchus multicinctus and during recent years (Rubaihayo and Gold, Meloidogyne spp. are found at all altitudes 1993). The major constraints to banana although there may be higher population production in Uganda are pests, particu- densities of these nematodes at lower alti- larly weevils and nematodes (Gold et al., tudes (Elsen et al., 1998; Speijer et al., 1994). 1993; Speijer et al., 1994), diseases, espe- It is likely that nematode damage to the cially Black Sigatoka leaf spot (Vuylsteke base of the primary roots causes the great- and Swennen, 1988), declining soil fertility est damage to the plant, because this and frequent droughts (Karamura, 1993). would affect the entire root. Little is Plant parasitic nematodes have only known about nematode distribution and recently been recognized as serious pests feeding within the rhizosphere. Where of East African highland bananas (Bridge, exactly in the root system do nematodes 1988; Sarah, 1989; Kashaija et al., 1994) feed? Is there a difference in nematode and there are many questions about their population growth in different root parts precise role in declining banana productiv- and is that difference cultivar dependent? ity. Nematode infection of root tissues is Do the differences in root development known to impair absorption and transpor- observed among Musa genotypes (Swen- tation of water and nutrients and to nen et al., 1986) affect nematode repro- NEMATROPICA Vol. 30, No. 1, 2000 21 duction and their feeding? Necrosis may to three genome groups were included in be observed at the root base, along the pri- the study: Nabusa (East African highland mary roots and on the secondary roots. AAA-group), Pisang Awak (ABB-group) The site of infection may vary with nema- and Sukali Ndizi (AB-group). Two experi- tode species but generally, different spe- ments were conducted. In the first experi- cies may be found in a single root (Gowen ment, sword suckers detached from and Quénéhervé, 1990). established mats were examined, while in The objective of the present study was the second experiment, three month old to investigate the spatial distribution of the sucker derived plants were examined. different nematode species and the dam- Evaluation of sword suckers of established age they cause in three banana cultivars mats. The experiment was conducted at widely grown in Uganda; Nabusa, Pisang Namulonge and Ntungamo. The trial sam- Awak and Sukali Ndizi, representing AAA- pled at Namulonge was established in June (East African highland), ABB-, and AB- 1994 to assess the production loss caused groups, respectively. Nabusa (AAA-EA) is by nematodes on three different banana one of the commonly grown cultivars in cultivars of Nabusa, Pisang Awak, and Uganda for cooking purposes, Pisang Awak Sukali Ndizi and the extent of damage on is popular among farmers for manufacture the different cultivars. All planting material of beer, and Sukali Ndizi is the most widely was pared, selected for absence of weevil grown dessert banana (Karamura and damage and disinfected for 20 minutes in Karamura, 1994) and there are differences hot water at 53°C to 55°C (Colbran 1967). in host response of these cultivars to R. The material was then planted in polyethyl- similis and H. multicinctus infection in con- ene bags, with one half of the plants trolled experiments and in farmers’ fields infested with 93 g of banana root segments in Uganda (Speijer et al., 1999b, Elsen et containing approximately 16 368 P. goodeyi, al., 1998). When information on the spatial 6 603 R. similis and 83 421 H. multicinctus nematode distribution and damage is avail- and the other half not infested. Plants were able, an understanding may be had about left in the polyethylene bags for one month the role of nematodes in production loss in to allow for effective infestation of the East African highland bananas at the root material.