Management of nematodes in banana systems in Uganda

Abstract

Observations from a screen house experiment to study the host status of cassava and sweet potato to the banana nematodes indicate that both cassava and sweet potato are nonhosts of the major banana nematodes, namely, Radopholus similis, Helicotylenchus multicinctus and Pratylenchus goodeyi. An experiment aimed at devising cropping sequences that would minimise nematode damage and enable acceptable levels of banana production to be maintained was designed. Banana nematode population densities declined to negligible levels after 13 months of a break-crop of cassava or sweet potato planted immediately after a nematode infested banana crop in on-station field experiment. Most farmers opted for the cassava break-crop when thetrialwasrepeatedon-farm at a site in Kayunga district. Populations of R. similis reduced to zero while those of H. multicinctus reduced to negligible levels within 10 months after planting the cassava break-crop. Fi om these studies, a banana-cassava-sweet potato-banana rotation, use of clean banana planting material and proper crop, soil and water management practices are recommended for improvement and maintenance of banana production in plots previously infested by nematodes at high population levels.