Potentiality of different isolates of wilt fungus Fusarium oxysporum collected from rhizosphere of tomato against root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita

This investigation was undertaken to determine the effect of culture filtrates of different isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici on mortality of Meloidogyne incognita juveniles and egg hatching. It was observed that different concentrations including standard extract (S.E), 1:10 and 1:100 dilutions of all fungal filtrates inhibited egg hatch when compared with control. Minimum mortality and maximum hatching was observed in BRT (showing least mortality) isolate of F. oxysporum, while maximum mortality and minimum egg hatching was recorded in BGT (showing maximum mortality) isolate. Larval mortality was decreased with a decrease in concentration and the least mortality was observed in 1:100 when compared with SE and 1:10. The potentiality of both the isolates (BRT and BGT) against root-knot nematode M. incognita was confirmed by the pathogenicity test on tomato. These observations confirmed that F. oxysporumisolates possesses variability in pathogenicity ranging from pathogenic to bio-control agent. The plants inoculated with BRT isolate failed to show wilt symptoms while plants inoculated with BGT isolate showed wilt indices.     

Bioefficacy evaluation of controlled release formulations based on amphiphilic nano-polymer of carbofuran against Meloidogyne incognita infecting tomato

In the present investigation, the bioefficacy of developed carbofuran formulations, with PEG-600 (7a, CP1) & PEG-900 (7b, CP2) @ 5, 10 and 20 ppm, along with commercial formulation of carbofuran 3G (CP0) were evaluated against the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita infecting tomato (cv. Pusa Ruby) in pot and field conditions. The bioefficacy data indicated that the formulations developed by utilizing polymers having PEG – 900 (7b) as hydrophilic segment were effective even at 14 days post inoculation (dpi) as evident from shoot and root length. Also, the reduction in penetration was found to be maximum with CP2 (3.6 – 4.6 J2s) at all concentrations compared to CP1 (6.6 – 16.4 J2s) and CP0 (29.3 – 32.6 J2s). Overall, CP2 was more effective in reducing the number of nematodes up to 14 days, compared to CP1 and CP0. Both the CR formulations (CP1 and CP2) in general significantly reduced the number of galls, when compared to CP0. However, under field conditions, lower concentrations (5, and 10 ppm) of CP2, were less effective in controlling the gall formation whereas, CP2 at 20 ppm, was most effective than other treatments. The study revealed that the developed CR formulations of carbofuran have the potential for effective management of M. incognita in tomato under field conditions.     

Microwave assisted solvent-free synthesis and biological activities of novel imines (Schiff bases)

Twelve new ortho-Hydroxyketimines were synthesized by conventional as well as microwave method and evaluated for their antinemic activity against Meloidogyne incognita [(Kofoid and White) Chitwood]. Conventional methods for synthesis of Schiff bases require refluxing at 140°C of the reactants in different solvents for at least 24 h or more, where as the microwave-assisted synthesis has brought down the reaction time from 24 h to 1 minute. The procedure reported is simple as it does not require any organic solvents and the time has been reduced to only 1 minute. Comparative yields of all compounds by different methods revealed that the yield was low in conventional method (79–87%) as compared to microwave assisted synthesis (94–97%). The bioassay revealed that all the test compounds exhibited promising nematicidal activity; N-propyl-2-hydroxypropiophenonimine being the most effective with LC₅₀ value of 74.46 mgL^?1 followed by N-hexyl-2-hydroxyacetophenonimine with LC₅₀ value of 99.60 mgL^?1 after 72 h of exposure. The results obtained from bioassay indicated that this class of compounds has not only given a lead with regard to potential of Schiff bases in pest control, but has suggested that a carbon chain length of 6 atoms in the side chain is optimum on the basis of structure activity relationship (SAR).     

Biocatalytic amidation of carboxylic acids and their antinemic activity

A series of novel N-alkyl substituted amides, synthesized by enzyme catalysis, were evaluated against root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita and found to have potential antinemic activity. The corresponding amides were prepared by the condensation of equimolar amounts of carboxylic acids with different alkyl amines in the presence of Candida antarctica lipase at 60–90°C in 16–20 h. The reactions were carried out in a non - solvent system without the use of any activating agents. All the products were obtained in appreciable amounts and the yields for different compounds varied between 77.4–82.3%. The synthesized compounds were characterized using spectroscopy techniques namely Infra Red (IR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) (¹H and ¹³C). Nematicidal activity of synthesized amides was evaluated against J₂s of Meloidogyne incognita at 500, 250, 125 and 62.5 ppm concentrations after 24 h, 48 h and 72 h of exposure. Among all the tested compounds, N-propyl-butyramide, N-propyl-pentanamide and N-propyl-hexanamide were found to possess significant activity with LC₅₀ values of 67.46, 83.49 and 96.53 respectively. N-propyl-butyramide with LC₅₀ value of 67.46 ppm was found to be most active amide against J₂s of Meloidogyne incognita. The bioactivity study showed that an increase in alkyl chain significantly decreased the activity of amides against root-knot nematode.