Evaluation of Musa host plant response using nematode densities and damageindices

Host plant response of seven Musa accessions to Radopholus similis and Heli cotylenchus multicinctus was evaluated at Namulonge, Uganda. Suckers detach ed from first cycle harvested plants grown in inoculated and not inoculated fields were indexed for root and corm damage. Nematodes were extracted fro m the indexed roots. Relationships between root damage parameters and nemat ode population densities were examined using correlation and principal comp onent analysis, Damage parameters were of major importance. Three groups of cultivars could be statistically differentiated. The cultivars Gros Michel (Musa AAA), Pisang Awak (Musa ABB), Mbwazirume (Musa AAA, highland banana clone set Nakitembe) and Sukali Ndizi (Musa AB) were more tolerant and less susceptible to nematode attack. Cultivars Valery (Musa AAA) and Obino l'Ew ai (Musa AAB) were more sensitive and susceptible to-nematode attack (P < 0 .05). Cultivar Nabusa (Musa AAA, highland banana clone set Nfuuka) Ras inte rmediate and did not differ significantly from either group.