Meloidogyne (Nematoda: Meloidogynidae) induced root galls of the banana plantMusa paradisiaca — A study of histopathology

Abstract

Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White 1919) Chitwood 1949 was found to complete its life cycle within the roots of the banana plantMusa paradisiaca (cultivar Palayathodan). Egg sacs were confined entirely within the root. Second stage larvae penetrated the endodermis and on entering the stele succeeded in inducing multinucleate giant cells which were solely confined to the stele and never found in the cortex, induction of giant cells and production of large number of females in banana roots showed that this is a susceptible host plant. Heavily infested roots showed histopathological changes which could lead to the blockage of conducting elements. This nematode is not very common in banana roots probably because second stage larvae emerging from the egg sacs reinfested the same roots and also because of the differential susceptibility of the various cultivars of the banana plant.