EFFECT OF SOME SECONDARY PLANT METABOLITES AS SEED TREATMENT AGENTS AGAINST MELOIDOGYNE INCOGNITA ON TOMATO

Abstract

Serpentine, an indole alkaloid isolated from the roots of Catharanthus roseus and citronellol and geraniol, essential oils of Pelargonium graveolens were tested for their efficacy as seed treatment agents against Meloidogyne incognita on tomato. At 0.2% conc. they both significantly increased growth of tomato and decreased M. incognita infestation. Seed treatment with serpentine or citronellol at 0.5% conc. did not increase the growth of tomato, through it significantly reduced the root-knot nematode infestation. Geraniol at 0.2 or 0.5% conc. did not decrease root-knot nematode infestation.