Resumen
- SUMMARY This paper reviews the development of biological enhancement of banana using mutualistic endophytic fungi and discusses the importance of the detection of suppressive soils for the new concept of developing in-planta based suppressiveness. Urgency is the best word to describe the present need for alternative tools to replace the use of nematicides for the management of plant parasitic nematodes in banana as well as in other crops. The lack of resistant varieties, a lag in development of new nematicides, the ever present environmental concerns, enhanced microbial degradation of pesticides, the monoculture nature of the crop and yield stagnation are factors that underscore the need for alternative or improved management systems. One of the more novel techniques being developed for nematode and disease control is the concept of biological enhancement of tissue culture plantlets with fungal and or bacterial endophytes. Biological enhancement, if successful, would generate a fundamental change in the manner in which new banana fields are planted, but also open up new avenues for integrated nematode management.