INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE MELOIDOGYNE-INCOGNITA ANDGLOMUS-MOSSEAE IN BANANA

The effects of the interaction between the arbuscular mycorrhizal fung us Glomus mosseae and the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita on growth and nutrition of micropropagated 'Grand Naine' banana (Musa AAA ) cultivar was studied under greenhouse conditions. Inoculation with t wo G. mosseae isolates significantly increased growth of plants in rel ation to non-mycorrhizal plants. Response to mycorrhizae was as effect ive as with an optimum P fertilization in promoting plant development for most growth parameters. Meloidogyne incognita had no apparent effe ct on the percentage of root colonization in mycorrhizal plants. In co ntrast, G. mosseae suppressed root galling and nematode buildup in the roots. The percentage of mycorrhizal colonization was high (over 80%) in low P fertilized plants, but optimum P rates for bananas (four tim es higher than low P) significantly reduced mycorrhizal colonization. Most elements were within sufficiency levels for banana with exception of N which was low for all treatments. Mycorrhizal plants fertilized with a low P rate showed higher N, P,K, Ca, and Mg contents as compare d to non-mycorrhizal plants low in P with or without the nematode. Ino culation with G. mosseae favours growth of banana plants by enhancing plant nutrition and by suppressing nematode reproduction and galling d uring the early stages of plant development.