Bananas and Food Security - Bioversity International

246 Les productions bananières / Bananas and food security – Session 1
Table 6. Occurrence and distribution of pathogenic nematodes on the Batinah coast.
Nematode Frequency of Population Mean Distribution
species occurrence (%) range population
Helicotylenchus 70 56-2170 493 Quriyat, Seeb, Barka,
multicinctus Rustaq, Musanah, Suweiq,
Saham, Kaubourah, Liwa
and Shinas
Meloidogyne
incognita
100 80-3360 817 -Do-
M. javanica 35 100-558 233 Quriyat, Barka, Rustaq,
Suweiq, Saham and Liwa
Tylenchorynchus 50 74-800 369 Quriyat, Seeb, Barka,
coffeae Musanah, Saham,
Kaubourah, Liwa and Shinas
the samples collected from Saham. Hence M. incognita seemed to be important in view
of its high frequency and density recorded in many centres.
H. multicinctus was recorded in 70% of the samples, with populations more than ETL
in 30% of the samples collected (Table 6). This level of population was high enough to
cause significant crop loss.
T. coffeae was also found to be widespread but populations higher than ETL were
observed in only 15% of the samples and thus may not be a serious problem at the
moment. However it may multiply and spread to new areas through infected planting
materials under favourable conditions.
All the nematodes of banana were found to spread to new locations through infected
suckers. Hence it is essential to use nematode-free suckers obtained from healthy areas
in order to prevent further spread of the nematodes.
Nematodes in Salalah
The burrowing nematode Radopholus similis is a serious parasitic nematode in Salalah
(Mani et al. 1991). Other nematode species recorded are Meloidogyne spp. and the
lesion nematode Pratylenchus musicola.
Viral diseases
Regarding virus diseases, only mosaic and aucuba mosaic have been recorded, which
have no significant effect on yield. Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) is not present
although the vector Pentalonia nigronervosa is prevalent. This may be attributed to the
lack of source of infection and alternate host plants belonging to the Araceae family
(Moghal SM, pers. comm.)
Abiotic stresses
Banana production is affected by various abiotic factors such as heat and salt stress. Sun
injury on developing fruits is common during summer. Due to high evapotranspiration
and lack of moisture, fruit cracks also occur and reduce fruit quality. Bananas irrigated