Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides - Online edition

Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides

Yam lesion nematode (008)


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Summary

  • Worldwide distribution. On yam, banana, and many other crops and weeds. Note, the burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis, causes a similar disease on banana (see Fact Sheet no. 257). An important disease.
  • Eggs are laid in roots or nearby in soil; young larvae, and adults, tunnel through roots and tubers using a hollow spear to suck cell contents. Roots are killed.
  • Spread is in ground water, and infested tubers and setts used for planting.
  • Cultural control: non-host break crop (e.g., cassava, sweetpotato, ground legumes – Mucuna or Pueraria; discard sets with rot, or cut out with knives wiped in bleach; alternatively, treat yam setts in hot water (51°C for 10 minutes) or, for banana sets, (53°C for 20 mins.); avoid storing tubers with rots, and if seen remove; 3-year crop rotation.
  • Chemical control: none recommended.

Common Name

Dry rot of yam, brown dry rot, banana root nematode, toppling of banana

Scientific Name

Pratylenchus coffeae


AUTHORS Helen Tsatsia & Grahame Jackson
Information (and Diagram) from Davis EL, MacGuidwin AE (2005) Lesion nematode disease. The Plant Health Instructor. DOI: 10.1094/PHI-I-2000-1030-02; and from Hauser S, Coyne D (2010) A hot bath cleans all: Boiling water treatment of banana and plantain. Technical Innovation Brief. No. 8. (https://www.ctc-n.org/sites/www.ctc-n.org/files/resources/4ea6bfcd-2658-4dac-bf31-03861661b3dc.pdf). Photo 1 V Vanstone Pratylenchus penetrans: a horticulturally significant root lesion nematode. Department of Agriculture and Food, Government of Western Australia. Photo 4 John Bridge, CABI, UK.

Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

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