MANAGEMENT AND FLUCTUATIONS OF HELICOTYLE NCHUS-MULTICINCTUS AND MELOIDOGYNE-INCOGNITA POPULATIONS ON BANANA IN VENEZUELA

Two and a half-year-old banana (Musa AAA) cv. Giant Cavendish plants i nfected with H. multicinctus and M. incognita were treated with two ap plications of ethoprop in May and November 1991 and 1992 at rates of 2 .25, 3.00 and 4.00 g a.i./plant. All treatments suppressed densities o f both nematodes in the root during two years but did not have any eff ect on banana field during the first year. Weight of banana bunches fr om plants treated with ethoprop at 2.25 a.i./plant were greater (p les s than or equal to 0.05) compared to those of the untreated controls. Densities of H. multicinctus in the roots one month before harvest and total water (rainfall + irrigation) showed a negative correlation (r = -0.59) in 1991-1992 and positive correlation (r = +0.617) in 1992-19 93. Fluctuations of root and soil densities of M. incognita was errati c and was not influenced by rainfall and irrigation. Fluctuations of s oil densities of H. multicinctus was similar.