Nematicidal activity of onion (Allium cepa) oil and its components against the pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus)

Abstract

Onion oil and its components were tested for their nematicidal activity against the pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, with 96-well plate bioassays. Responses varied with test materials and concentration. Good nematicidal activity against male, female and juvenile nematodes of B. xylophilus was achieved with onion oil. The LC 50 values of onion oil against male, female and juvenile pine wood nematodes were 17.6, 13.8 and 12.1 µg ml −1 , respectively. Analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry led to the identification of four major sulphur compounds: propyl disulphide, propyl trisulphide, methyl propyl disulphide and methyl propyl trisulphide. These four compounds and propyl sulphide and methyl propyl sulphide were tested individually for their nematicidal activities against pine wood nematode. LC 50 values of propyl trisulphide and methyl propyl trisulphide against juvenile nematode were 5.0 and 22.9 µg ml −1 , respectively. Other sulphur compounds showed weak activity.

Anthelmintic activity of Cymbopogon citratus against Haemonchus contortus

“…Therefore, citral is likely the active substance responsible for the anthelmintic activity. Citral has antibacterial (FISHER et al, 2007), antifungal (YAMASAKI et al, 2007) and insecticidal activities (YANG et al, 2005), and it is also effective against the phytonematodes Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and Meloidogyne incognita (BAUSKE et al, 1994;CHOI et al, 2007) and the larvae of the nematode Anisakis simplex (HIERRO et al, 2006). Citral has also been reported as a predominant compound in Eucalyptus staigeriana essential oil and may be responsible for the activity of that essential oil against the gastrointestinal nematodes of goats (MACEDO et al, 2010).…”

Bioactivity against Bursaphelenchus xylophilus: Nematotoxics from essential oils, essential oils fractions and decoction waters

“…In direct contact assays against PWN, Choi et al (2007b) evaluated the activity of different monoterpenes, using synthetic chemicals. Out of the 26 monoterpenes tested, carvacrol, thymol, geraniol, nerol, (À)-menthol, citronellol, citronellal and citral (mixture of geranial and neral) showed the highest activities against PWN.…”

“…Out of the 26 monoterpenes tested, carvacrol, thymol, geraniol, nerol, (À)-menthol, citronellol, citronellal and citral (mixture of geranial and neral) showed the highest activities against PWN. By relating the anti-nematode activity to the chemical functional group, Choi et al (2007b) showed that monoterpene hydrocarbons and ketones had weak or no activity. Other monoterpenes revealed a hierarchy of functional groups, phenols, aldehydes and primary alcohols being the most active followed by secondary and tertiary alcohols.…”

In vitro and in planta nematicidal activity of Fumaria parviflora (Fumariaceae) against the southern root‐knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita

“…The total number of unhatched eggs or active ⁄ inactive J2s in each well was counted after 24, 48 and 72 h incubation. Juveniles were defined as dead if their body was straight and they did not move, even after mechanical prodding (Choi et al, 2007). Percentages of unhatched eggs and J2 mortality were calculated for each well.…”