Abstract
Root knot nematodes Meloidogyne incognita are responsible for heavy economic losses to many agricultural crops and considered the most difficult crop pest to control. Recently attention on environmental and food safety in addition to human health has led to increase the limitations on using chemical nematocides and searching for environmental safe natural nematocides. Saponins extracted from Medicago sativa L., alfalfa was used to control the infection of tomato seedlings with root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita. The results indicated that saponin treatments led to significant reduction in the numbers of larva of root knot nematodes in tomato roots and in soil. The highest nematode inhibition was observed in the treatment of 100% of saponin crude extracts. The observed reduction of the number of nematode larva in tomato roots and in soil were found to be correlated with the decline of cholesterol level in root knot nematode eggs which is due to saponins from Medicago sativa, in a concentration dependent manner. Also saponin treatments showed a general improvement in plant growth and performance.
Highlights
Saponins are secondary metabolites widely presented in many plant species
The present study aims to evaluate the nematocidal activity of saponins crude extract from alfalfa against root knot nematode
The nematocidal activity of different concentrations of saponins extract from Medicago sativa was measured by determination of nematode populations in soil and tomato roots after 10 days of treatment
Summary
Saponins are secondary metabolites widely presented in many plant species. Most saponins are hemolytic and display many biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory and hypochlosterolimic effects. Saponins from alfalfa showed a hypocholesterimic effect in rats through the ability of natural saponins to reduce cholesterol uptake from rat’s intestine [1]. The hypocholesterimic mechanism of saponins included their ability to form insoluble complex with sterols. Many commercial products containing saponins are used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industry. Triterpene saponins from Quillaja saponaria are used to control insect and nematode development [2,3]. Saponins from Medicago arborea, Medicago Arabica and Medicago sativa all possess nematicidal activity against plant-parasitic nematode X. index [4]
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