Nematicidal activity of some phenolic compounds against Meloidogyne incognita

Abstract

SUMMARY A number of phenolic compounds including monohydroxy, dihydroxy and trihydroxy compounds, quinones and aromatic acids such as transcinnamic acid have been studied for their nematicidal activity and their effect on egg hatch of Meloidogyne incognita. Maximum nematicidal activity was exhibited by transcinnamic acid followed by pyrogallol, 2-OH napthoic acid and ethyl gallate. After autoxidation, certain compounds like o-resorcylic acid, 3,4 dihydroxybenzoic acid (protocatechuic acid), ferulic acid and caffeic acid were found to be highly toxic to the nematode larvae though they showed poor activity before autoxidation. Transcinnamic acid and 2-OH napthoic acid also markedly suppressed the egg hatch of M. incognita.