Community analysis of nematodes in the rhizosphere of banana in Puri district, Orissa

Community analysis of nematodes in the rhizospheres of 9 banana varieties grown around Bhubaneswar in Puri district, Orissa, revealed that Tylenchorhynchus mashhoodi had the highest frequency, importance and prominence values followed by Meloidogyne incognita. The latter on the other hand had the highest average density of 611 juveniles per 250 ml of soil. Helicotylenchus multicinctus ranked third in terms of density, prominence and importance values and sixth in frequency. Hirschmanniella mucronata and Hemicycliophora demani were new records of association with banana. Radopholus similis was not observed in the orchards surveyed. M. incognita is considered to be the primary cause of decline in these orchards.