Combination of Crotalaria spectabilis with Rhizophagus irregularis MUCL41833 decreases the impact of Radopholus similis in banana

The past decade has seen substantial progress in our knowledge on microorganisms (e.g. arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi—AMF) and push-pull plants (e.g. Crotalaria spectabilis) that contribute to the biocontrol of nematodes. However, the application of microorganisms together with push-pull plants has seldom been considered. Therefore, the objective of the study was to investigate the combined effect of AMF and C. spectabilis on the control of the nematode Radopholus similis in banana. Banana plants, pre-colonized or not with the AMF Rhizophagus irregularis MUCL 41833 were grown in 3 L pots in presence/absence of Crotalaria spectabilis. Above-ground parts were separated with a fixed talpa net to separate shoots and leaves of the two plants. Similarly, the pots were divided below-ground in two compartments by growing the banana roots in a pocket nylon mesh (30 mm), to avoid roots of both plants to intermingle. The banana plants were established first and were followed three weeks later by C. spectabilis. Inoculation of nematodes was done in parallel to the planting of C. spectabilis. Half of the banana plants received 1000 monoxenically produced juveniles and adults of R. similis. ..