Incidence and population densities of nematode parasites of banana (Musa AAA) roots in Ecuador

Banana root samples acquired from 1994 to 1999 were processed for plant par asitic nematodes by NEMALAB and data subjected to frequency analysis. Four plant parasitic nematode genera were detected. Based on their frequencies a nd population densities, the relative importance of these genera, in decrea sing order, was as follows: R. similis> Helicotylenchus spp. > Pratylenchus spp. > Aleloidogyne spp. From a total of 5 311 root samples, 4 696 (88%) c ontained R. similis, 3 026 (57%) contained Helicotylenchus spp., 677 (13%) contained Pratylenchus spp., 120 (2%) contained Meloidogyne spp., and 5 016 (94%) contained at least one of these genera High population densities of R. similis were detected during all months of the year in the four province s included in the study.