Susceptibility of banana intercrops for rhizobacteria, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and the burrowing nematode Radopholus similis

Abstract

The susceptibility of 7 non-leguminous and 7 leguminous banana intercrops (and rotation crops) for rhizobacteria, mycorrhizal fungi and the burrowing nematode Radopholus similis was investigated and compared with the host response of banana cv. Grande Naine ( Musa AAA group). In 50% of the tested combinations, the bacteria elicited nodules but these nodules were effective in fixing nitrogen only in about 11% of the tested combinations. Of the non-leguminous intercrops tested, wormseed, sweet potato cv. Tapato and cotton showed a poor mycorrhizal compatibility, based on the frequency ( F%) and intensity ( I%) of mycorrhizal colonisation. Of the leguminous intercrops tested, soybean, Grant's rattlebox, common bean, pigeon pea and sunn hemp showed a moderate mycorrhizal compatibility. Overall, F% and I% were higher in the leguminous intercrops compared with the non-leguminous intercrops. The susceptibility for R. similis differed among the intercrops tested. In the non-leguminous intercrops, marigold, sweet potato cv. Tapato, cotton and sesame were non-hosts, sweet potato cv. Inzovu, sorghum were intermediate hosts and sorgho-sudangrass was a good host. In the leguminous intercrops, hairy indigo was a non-host, Grant's rattlebox, soybean and sunn hemp were poor hosts and cowpea, common bean and pigeon pea were intermediate hosts.