Effects of Some Indigenous Plant Extracts on Mortality of the Root Lesion Nematode, Pratylenchus thornei Sher & Allen

Abstract

The genus of root lesion nematodes (RLN), Pratylenchus, feeds and reproduces in the root cortex of many plant species. RLN was reproduced on carrot culture by using a pure culture. In vitro tests were carried out to determine the effects of plant extracts from three indigenous plants: henbane, Hyoscyamus niger; bead-tree, Melia azedarah and common cocklebur, Xanthium strumarium on P. thornei (the major wheat root-lesion nematode). The nematodes were exposed for 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hrs in three concentrations of plant extracts. The effect of plant extracts was performed using the suspensions of P. thornei (100 nematodes ml(-1)) in distilled water. Distilled water was used as a control. All dishes were kept at 28 +/- 2 degrees C. The plant extracts of H. niger, M. azedarah and X strumarium exhibited highly promising mortality rate (100%) after 72 hours of exposure time. The result of this study suggests the studied plant extracts to be used for reducing the P. thornei population.