Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-cjp7w Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-28T17:03:33.615Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Rhadinaphelenchus cocophilus (Cobb, 1919) Goodey, 1960 as a Root Parasite of Coconuts*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 November 2009

D. W. Fenwick
Affiliation:
Trinidad and Tobago Coconut Research Station, Eastern Main Road, Champs Fleurs, Trinidad W.I
S. Maharaj
Affiliation:
Trinidad and Tobago Coconut Research Station, Eastern Main Road, Champs Fleurs, Trinidad W.I

Extract

While investigating Red Ring Disease of coconuts, the authors detected Rhadinaphelenchus cocophilus (Cobb, 1919) Goodey, 1960 in the root systems of three otherwise healthy coconut trees. One of these was about seven years old; the roots and the stem were sampled five times weekly but no stem or petiole infection was detected. A similar state of affairs was detected in the second tree. In neither case over a period of several weeks was there evidence of upward movement of the worm into the stem. The third tree was more interesting: the first sampling disclosed the presence of the nematodes in only one sample of roots out of four taken equidistantly around the stem; subsequent examination showed that the infection spread through the root system in the neighbourhood of the base of the tree until at the end of one month, worms were recovered from all parts of the proximal root system and the population had increased to 100–150 worms per gm. of root: many of these were sexually mature; after a further two weeks, there was still no upward movement into the stem.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1963

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Cobb, N. A., 1919.—“A newly discovered nematode Aphelenchus cocophilus n. sp. connected with a serious disease of the coconut palm.” W. Ind. Bull., 17, 203210.Google Scholar
Fenwick, D. W., 1957.—“Red Ring Disease of Coconuts in Trinidad and Tobago.” Colonial Office Report 40017.Google Scholar
Fenwick, D. W., 1963.—“Recovery of Rhadinaphelenchus cocophilus (Cobb, 1919) Goodey, 1960, from coconut tissues.” J. Helminth., 36, 1114.Google Scholar
Goodey, J. B., 1960.—“Rhadinaphelenchus cocophilus (Cobb 1919) n. comb, the nematode associated with ‘red ring’ Disease of Coconuts.” Nematologica, 5, 98102.CrossRefGoogle Scholar