PLANT-PARASITIC NEMATODES OF PLANTAIN AND OTHER CROPS IN CAMEROON, WEST-AFRICA

In a nematode survey of plantains mainly from smallholder farms in Cam eroon, 33 species of plant parasitic nematodes from eighteen genera we re extracted from plantain soils; thirteen species were found as plant ain root endoparasites. The most important in relation to root damage and occurrence were Pratylenchus goodeyi, Radopholus similis and Helic otylenchus multicinctus. P. coffeae was also present in a few areas. T his is the first record of P. goodeyi occurring as a major root pest o f plantains in West Africa, and it was present in a large proportion o f the plantain farms. The distribution of P. goodeyi and R. similis wa s associated with temperature at different altitudes: P. goodeyi occur red mainly at or above an altitude of 900 m above sea level, whereas R . similis was always found below an altitude of 900 m. On the other cr ops, Scutellonema bradys was found causing dry rot of yam tubers.