Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

NEMATICIDAL ACTIVITIES OF QUERCUS BRANTII L., MYRTUS COMMUNIS L. AND CITRULLUS COLOCYNTHIS (L.) SCHRAD

Abbas Salahi Ardakani

Abstract

Inhibitory effects of the water extracts as well as powder of different parts of three plants, oak (Quercus brantii L.), true myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) and bitter cucumber (Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. on the Meloidogyne incognita, (Kofoid and White) Chitwood, were determined under in vitro and greenhouse conditions. Concentrations of extract from different plant parts were at 1, 2 and 4% (w/v) for in vitro experiment. In the greenhouse condition, powders of 0.1 and 0.2% (w/w) were used for true myrtle and 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8% for oak and bitter cucumber. Two second stage juveniles (J2) of M. incognita per gram soil and 200 J2 per milliliter of plants extract were mentioned as inoculums level in in vivo and in vitro conditions, respectively. Maximum J2 mortality and reduction of gall formation on roots of tomato, number of egg masses, number of eggs and total population of M. incognita were seen in all treatments of true myrtle (P<0.01), followed by oak and bitter cucumber, in comparison with respective controls. However, nematicidal effects of oak and bitter cucumber were very low especially in in vitro condition. Results of greenhouse experiments were similar to in vitro ones. Our recommendation is use of whole plant (except root) extract (2%) and or powder (0.02%) of true myrtle in aim to control M. incognita.