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Application of a flowing solution culture technique to study the parasitic fitness of the nematode Radopholus similis on banana plantlets under two different nitrogen nutrient regimes
Author(s) -
Declerck,
Laloux,
; Sarah,
Bruno Delvaux
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
plant pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.928
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1365-3059
pISSN - 0032-0862
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3059.1998.00286.x
Subject(s) - radopholus similis , biology , nutrient , musaceae , nematode , infestation , nitrogen , inoculation , zoology , botany , horticulture , compartment (ship) , ecology , chemistry , organic chemistry , oceanography , geology
A flowing solution culture technique was used to study the effects of N nutrition on banana root infestation by the burrowing nematode Radopholus similis . Paired groups of banana plants were grown in separate compartments containing coarse sand (2–5 mm diameter). Input nutrient solutions had fixed compositions and identical total N concentrations. The two compartments differed in their NH 4 + /total N concentrations, one receiving 0% NH 4 + /total N (100% NO 3 − /total N) and the other 60% NH 4 + /total N (40% NO 3 − /total N). The compartments were connected by a inverted T‐shaped tube containing fine sand (200–250 μ m diameter) through which nematodes were inoculated. The pH and N concentrations of the output solution were determined at regular intervals. The pH of the output solution differed markedly between the two compartments, with values of 6.8 and 3.6 in the 0% and 60% NH 4 + compartments, respectively. In the compartment receiving 0% NH 4 + , the number of nematodes in the roots and the growth of banana plants was significantly higher than in the compartment receiving 60% NH 4 + . Even though they were more infested by nematodes, banana plants receiving 100% NO 3 − developed better than the less infested plants grown in the medium containing 40% NO 3 − .