Mechanism of resistance in banana cultivars against root- lesion nematode, Pratylenchus coffeae

Abstract

Ten diploids and forty-nine triploids comprising of wild and cultivated banana accessions collected from different parts of India were screened under pot culture for understanding the mechanism of resistance against root lesion nematode, Pratylenchus coffeae. Following inoculation of banana plantlets with the nematodes, the peroxidase activity increased in both the resistant and susceptible genotypes. However, the final enzyme concentration was the maximum in resistant diploid accessions like M. balbisiana, Kanai Bansi, Aittakola, Bhimkol and Athiakol. A critical analysis of the polyphenol oxidase activity in this study revealed that resistant accessions viz., Kechulepa, M. balbisiana, Karthobiumtham, Kachkel, Bhimkol, Athiakol, Kanai Bansi and Aittakola recorded higher polyphenol oxidase activity than the susceptible ones.