Prevalence and densities of banana nematodes in Kondotty-local Government Area, Kerala State, India

To determine the types, frequency of occurrence and population densities of plant parasitic nematodes in soil samples associated with banana (Musa paradisiaca), a survey was conducted in the Kondotty Taluk of Malappuram district, Kerala, India. A total of 12 genera of nematodes including six commonly occurring nematodes in the banana rhizosphere, three new records from banana and one new unidentified genus were obtained during the survey. Two free-living nematodes were also frequently observed in the analyzed soil samples from banana rhizosphere including Caenorhabditis elegans and Mononchus sp. C. elegans is exclusively found associated with rhizosphere of Nendra and Nattupoovan banana varieties.