ALTERNATE CROPPING IN THE MANAGEMENT OF RADOPHOLUS-SIMILIS AND COSMOPOLITES-SORDIDUS, 2 IMPORTANT PESTS OF BANANA AND PLANTAIN

Microplots were prepared in land infested with the banana nematode Rad opholus similis, and the banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus. For 1 y ear, one of six crops was grown in the microplots or the microplots we re left fallow. Sampling showed that in addition to plantain (Muse, AA B) both maize and groundnut were hosts to R. similis. After a year mic roplots were replanted with tissue-cultured plantain. Three months aft er planting, tissue-cultured plantain in plots that previously support ed plantain, maize and groundnut were heavily infested with R. similis . Thirteen months after planting, tissue-cultured plantain showed best growth in previously-bare-fallow plots with poorest growth in previou sly-plantain plots. Damage by C. sordidus was severe in previously-pla ntain plots but much less so in other plots. Results of this trial and of a greenhouse experiment were unable to show that the nematode Hopl olaimus pararobustus was pathogenic to either plantain or banana. Reco mmendations are made for the management of both R. similis and C. sord idus.