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 resource- challenged 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 bio-control 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 Determination of nematode load in T.C banana plantlets

January 2014 Bananas inoculation with biological control agents

January 2014 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 10000

Trichoderma 5000

Petridishes 30 3000

Polybags 300 500

Silicon 3000

Miscellaneous 10,000

Total 56,000

• THANK YOU