Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-fscjk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-18T08:56:59.918Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Root morphology and development of banana and plantain root systems in relation to nematode population

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2006

Roger Fogain
Affiliation:
Centre Africain de Recherches sur Bananiers et Plantains (CARBAP), BP 832 Douala, Cameroon
R. Simon Gowen
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University of Reading, Earley Gate, PO Box 236, Reading Berks, UK
Get access

Abstract

Introduction. Nematodes are significant pests of bananas and plantains worldwide. Different levels of susceptibility to these pests have been reported. Studies were carried out to investigate differences in root systems and development of Musa clones with different levels of susceptibility and their possible role in the host-parasite relationship. Materials and methods. Five Musa clones, of which four were susceptible and one resistant to the nematode Radopholus similis, were grown in a plot naturally infested by this nematode. Root samples were collected 6 months after planting and measurements were made on the significance of tissue areas in root cross-sections, and the significance of root mass, root development and nematode populations with depth. Results. No significant difference was observed between cultivars in their general structural organisation or the relative significance of the tissue component of the root cross-section. A significantly lower number of air lacunae was found in the resistant accession in comparison with the susceptible ones. All the accessions except Christine (ABB) were comparable in their root development in the soil profile with more than 70% of the total root mass produced above 40 cm. The greatest nematode population and damage on roots were found at depths between (20 and 40) cm. Conclusions. This is the first report on differences in air spaces between Musa cultivars, and their role in the Musa-nematode relationship needs further investigation.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© CIRAD, EDP Sciences, 2005

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Lavender, E.A., Atkinso, D., Mackie-Dawson, L.A., Variation in root development in genotypes of Betula pendula, Asp. Appl. Biol. 34 (1993) 183192.
Price N.S., Banana morphology. Part 1: Root and rhizome, in: Gowen S. (Ed.), Bananas and plantains, Chapman & Hall, London, UK, 1995, pp. 179–189.
Mateille, T., Comparative host tissue reactions of Musa acuminata (AAA group) cvs Poyo and Gros Michel to three banana parasitic nematodes, Ann. Appl. Biol. 124 (1) (1994) 6573. CrossRef
Fogain, R., Gowen, S.R., Investigations on possible mechanisms of resistance to nematodes in Musa, Euphytica 92 (3) (1996) 375381. CrossRef
Travis, A.J., Murison, S.D., Chesson, A., Walker, K.C., Quantitative measurement of stem anatomy as an indicator of varietal performance, Asp. Appl. Biol. 34 (1993) 335343.
Berrie G.K., Berrie A., Eze J.M.O., Root structure and function, in: Tropical Plant Science, Longman, Harlow, UK, 1987.
Riopel, J.L., Steeves, T.A., Studies on the roots of Musa acuminata cv. Gros Michel. 1. The anatomy and development of main roots, Ann. Bot. 28 (1964) 475490. CrossRef
Kwa M., Architecture, morphogenèse et anatomie de quelques cultivars de bananiers, Univ. Montpellier II, thèse, Montpellier, France, 1993.
Quesnel L.B., Microscopy and micrometry, in: Noms I.R., Ribbons D.W. (Eds.), Methods in microbiology, Vol. 5A, Acad. Press, London, UK, 1971, pp. 1–104.
Southey J.F., Principles of sampling for nematodes, in: Southey J.F. (Ed.), Laboratory methods for work with plant and soil nematodes, HMSO Books, Norfolk, UK, 1986, pp. 1–4.
Bridge J., Gowen S.R., Visual assessment of plant parasitic nematodes and weevil damage on banana and plantain, in: Gold C.S., Gemill B. (Eds), Biological and integrated control of Highland banana and plantain pests and diseases, Proc. Res. Coord. Meet., Cotonou, Benin, 12–14 Nov. 1991, IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria, 1993, pp. 147–154.
Blake C.D., Nematode parasites of bananas and their control, in: Peachey E.J. (Ed.), Nematodes of tropical crops, Tech. Commun. No. 40, Commonw. Inst. Helminthol., Commonw. Agric. Bur., Farnham Royal, UK, 1969, pp. 109–132.
Irrizary, H., Vicente-Chandler, J., Silva, S., Root distribution of plantains growing on five soil types, J. Agric. Univ. Puerto Rico 65 (1981) 2934.
Sioussaram, D., Observations préliminaires sur l'enracinement des bananiers dans les sols de la station de Neufchateau, Guadeloupe, Fruits 23 (9) (1968) 847859.
Champion, J., Sioussaram, D., L'enracinement du bananier dans les conditions de la station de Neufchateau (Guadeloupe), Fruits 25 (12) (1970) 847859.
Godefroy, J., Lassoudière, A., Rutunga, V., Sebahutu, A., Caractéristiques des parties aériennes et du système racinaire des bananiers triploïdes 'AAA', sous-groupe bananes à bière de l'Afrique de l'Est, cultivées au Rwanda, Fruits 47 (2) (1992) 277280.