Fluctuation of Nematode Populations associated with Banana Plantation in Medinipur District, West Bengal, India

Monthly population fluctuation of four plant parasitic nematodes, Rotylenchulus reniformis, Tylenchorhynchus coffeae, Helicotylenchus crenacauda and Hoplolaimus indicus associated with banana plantation (Musa paradisiaca cv ‘Kanthali’), was studied in Paschim Medinipur District, West Bengal, India, during March 2004 to February 2005. All the four species reached at peak in August, then declined till January. In March, a second but smaller peak was seen, followed by a decline till June. Thus, a bimodal population fluctuation has been observed in all the cases. An attempt was also made to correlate the population change of the species with soil factors like temperature, moisture, pH, and organic carbon content. Temperature, moisture and organic carbon showed positive correlation with the population whereas pH showed negative correlation.