Nematicidal activity of some essential plant oils

Abstract

Abstract Nematicidal activity of the essential oils of different plant species belonging to the families Labiatae (Ocimum basilicum, Ocimum sanctum and Mentha piperata), Myrtaceae (Callistemon lanceolatus and Eugenia caryophyllata) and Gramineae (Cymbopogon caesius) and their major monoterpenoidal constituents, linalool, eugenol, menthol, cineole and geraniol was determined against second‐stage juveniles of seed‐gall nematode (Anguina tritici), citrus nematode (Tylenchulus semipenetrans), root‐knot nematode (Meloidogyne javanica) and pigeon‐pea cyst‐nematode (Heterodera cajani). The essential oil of E. caryophyllata and its major constituent eugenol, as well as linalool and geraniol, exhibited non‐specific activity against all the four nematodes tested .