Effects of banana wilt disease on soil nematode community structure and diversity

Effects of banana wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (FOC) on soil nematode community composition were investigated in Hainan province China. The results show that 31 nematode genera in the disease and control regions were identified. The disease area was mainly dominated by Acrobeles, Acrobeloides, Chiloplacus and Aphelenchus, while Pelodera, Protorhabditis, Ditylenchus and Basiria dominated in the control area. Paratylenchus was the dominant genus in both areas. The abundance of total nematodes, bacterivore (10 to 30 cm), plant parasites and omnivores-predators, the values of diversity (H'), maturity index (MI), plant parasite index (PPI), structure index (SI), enrichment index (EI), soil pH, the contents of total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and alkaline nitrogen (AN) in the disease area were significantly lower (P < 0.01) than in the control. However, those of fungivores (10 to 20 cm) and dominance (lambda) exhibited quite a reverse result. In the disease area, the abundance of total nematodes and bacterivore decreased (P < 0.01) and plant parasites increased (P<0.01) with the increase of soil depth. The values of SI increased (P < 0.01) with the increase of soil depth in the disease and control areas in 0 to 20 cm. The results indicate that FOC changed soil nematode community characteristics and decreased diversity of soil nematode community.