Radopholus Similis, the Burrowing Nematode of Coconut
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Date
1991
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The burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis causes considerable damage to coconut. The nematode has been reported from coconut palms in Florida, Jamaica, Sri Lanka, India and Western Samoa of Pacific Ocean Islands. In India, the nematode is reported on coconut from Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep Islands. The burrowing nematode population parasitising coconut is also known to infest and cause considerable damage to the intercrops in infested coconut plantations. The infestation of nematode causes heavy root rotting, loss of vigour, stunting, yellowing of fronds, delay in flowering, button shedding and reduction in yield. R. similis infestation produces small, elongate, orange-coloured lesions on tender creamy-white roots. Infested coconut roots yield maximum number of R. similis during October to November and minimum during March to July. The threshold inoculum density required to cause significant reduction in various growth parameters of coconut is 100 nematodes per seedling or one nematode in 576 cm3 or 800 g sandy loam soil over a period of five years under field conditions. Control of R. similis is known to increase coconut yield by 30 per cent. Information available on the biology and life cycle, population fluctuation, symptoms, pathogenicity, host range, methods of diagnosis and control of nematodes etc. are reviewed.
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Journal of plantation crops 1991 v-19 i-2 p-139-152