Work

Nematicidal activity of a biopolymer chitosan at different molecular weights against root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: The nematicidal activity of four molecular weights (2.27 × 105, 3.60 × 105, 5.97 × 105, and 9.47 × 105 g/mol) of a biopolymer chitosan was assayed against the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, in vitro and in pot experiments. In laboratory assays, the nematode mortality was significantly influenced by exposure times and chitosan molecular weight. Low molecular weight chitosan (2.27 × 105 g/mol) was the most effective in killing the nematode with EC50 of 283.47 and 124.90 mg/l after 24 and 48 h of treatment, respectively. In a greenhouse bioassay, all the compounds mixed in soil at one- and five-fold concentrations of the LC50 value significantly reduced population, egg mass, and root galling of tomato seedlings compared with the untreated control. In general, the nematicidal activity of these compounds was increased dramatically with a decrease in the molecular weight. The results suggest that the chitosan at low molecular weight may serve as a natural nematicide

Source: Plant Protection Science

DOI: 10.17221/46/2011-pps

Authors: Mohamed S. Khalil, Mohamed E. I. Badawy

Institutions: Agricultural Research Center, Alexandria University

Language: English

Topic: Nematode management and characterization studies

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $609