Efficacy of biological and synthetic methods of
controlling nematodes in tissue cultured banana
Zippora Muthoni Mwathi,
Msc. Crop Protection
A56/65664/2013
Introduction cnt’d
• Plant-parasitic nematodes are very
destructive e.g. Root lesion nematodes(
Pratylenchus spp.)
• They cause lesions on roots which can
eventually lead to toppling of banana plants.
• Damage on roots interferes with anchorage
,water and nutrient uptake
Introduction cnt’d
• Toppling disease
mychorhiza fungi
• Lesion on roots
Damaged corm
Control of nematodes in banana
• Biological controls of plant-parasitic
nematodes target different stages of
nematode development
• Fungi nematophagus traps only mobile
nematode stages.
• Mycorrhiza fungi compete with plant-parasitic
nematodes for nutrients like phosphorus.
Control management cnt’d
Pseudomonas spp. kill juveniles and adults by
producing lethal hydrogen cyanide.
Problem statement
• Root lesion nematodes destroy anchor roots
and makes plants susceptible to toppling,
especially when fruiting or during strong
winds
• Use of biological controls for plant-parasitic
nematodes is quite limited at present.
Justification
• Use of biological control will reduce the use of
conventional chemicals which are unfriendly
to human beings and the environment
• An effective control of root lesion nematode
will reduce the potential losses caused to
bananas hence increase profits.
• Biocontrol agents can be produced enmass
and sold at affordable prices to resourcechallenged farmers
Hypotheses
• Organic substrates in combination with
synthetic compounds can enhance buildup of
biological control agents for nematodes
namely mycorrhiza, nematophagus fungi and
Pseudomonas bacteria and silicon.
General objective
• To identify the best combination of biological
control and synthetic compounds for root lesion
nematode control in tissue culture bananas.
Specific objectives
• To identify substrates that stimulate
multiplication of bio-control agents like
nematophagus fungi, mycorrhiza fungi and
Pseudomonas bacteria.
• To determine the efficacy of mycorrhiza fungi,
Pseudomonas and nematophagus fungi in
suppressing nematodes in banana
Specific Objectives
• To determine the potential of synthetic
elements (silicon)in enhancing resistance to
nematodes in banana.
• To determine the efficacy of combined
treatments incorporating mycorrhiza, silicon,
appropriate substrates and bio-control agents
against nematodes in banana
Methods and materials
• Substrates will be inoculated with bio-control
agents i.e. nematophagus fungi, mycorrhiza
fungi and pseudomonas bacteria. The
substrate that boosts the highest level of
sporulation will be adopted to enhance biocontrol agents multiplication.
• Different banana plantlets will be inoculated
with equal number of spores(10)of the
different biocontrol agents. The level of
nematode load will be determined.
Methods and materials cnt’d
Different rates of silicon will be used to treat the
T.C bananas and the nematode load
determined thereafter.
• The banana plantlets will be treated with the
combination of Synthetic material-Silicon and
the bio-control agents. The nematode load in
the plantlets will be determined after the
treatments.
• Banana plantlets will be planted in
nematodes infested soil and the nematode
load determined after 1 month through
microscopy.
• Data analysis will be done .
Expected outcome
• Thesis
• Establish a method of management of root
lesion nematodes using bio control agentsby
imparting resistance to bananas.
Work plan
Time
Item
Item
July 2013
Proposal and presentation
July 2013
August 2013
Sourcing of substrates
Sterilization of substrates
September
2013
Sourcing for biological control agents
Inoculation of substrates
with biological control
agents
Nematodes extraction and
multiplication
November
2013
Sourcing for tissue cultured bananas
January 2014
Bananas inoculation with biological
control agents
January 2014
Determination of nematode load in T.C
banana plantlets
Determination of
nematode load in T.C
banana plantlets
Work plan cont’d
Item
Time
Determination of nematode load
February 2014
Treatment with silicon
Feb 2014
Determination of nematode load
March 2014
Combined treatment of b.c agents and silicon
March2014
Determination of nematode load
May 2014
Planting of plantlets in nematode infested soil
May 2014
Budget
Item
Quantity
Cost/item
Total
TC bananas
300
50
15000
Mycorrhiza
5000
Pseudomonas
5000
Substrates
Assorted
Trichoderma
10000
5000
Petridishes
30
3000
Polybags
300
500
Silicon
3000
Miscellaneous
10,000
Total
56,000