Crops In Mexico Research Articles

Identification of Delia spp. (Robineau-Desvoidy) (Diptera, Anthomyiidae) and its cruciferous hosts in Mexico.

Soil pests of cruciferous crops in Mexico have been gaining importance in recent years; such is the case of Delia spp. (Robineau-Desvoidy) (Diptera, Anthomyiidae), of which, to date, there are no studies on the correct identification of associated species, as well as the range of hosts. In an integrated pest management program, it is essential to know this information to design and implement adequate phytosanitary measures. Plants infested by Delia spp. were collected in the states of Guanajuato, Puebla, and Mexico from June to November 2017 and March to December 2018 in commercial plantations of cruciferous crops (Brassicaoleracea L. var. italica, botrytis and capitata), B.napus L., and Raphanussativus L.) as well as some cruciferous weeds (R.raphanistrum L., Sisymbriumirio L., B.campestris L., Capsellabursa-pastoris L., and Lepidiumvirginicum L.) in the edges of these crops. The two species found in this study, Deliaplanipalpis (Stein) and Deliaplatura (Meigen), identified using male genitalia was corroborated by molecular techniques. Both species emerged from all the sampled hosts, except for C.bursa-pastoris and L.virginicum. The association of the two species in cruciferous crops and weeds, provides valuable information for the management of these insects not only in cruciferous crops but other ones that are strongly attacked by D.platura.

Evaluation of Nematicidal Activity of Fluensulfone against Meloidogyne incognita in Bell Pepper Crop

The evaluation of nematicidal activity of the non- fumigant nematicide (fluensulfone) was evaluated for the control of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita in bell pepper crop (Capsicum annuum L.) under field conditions. The experiment was set up under a randomized complete block design with four replications. Six treatments were assessed for control of M. incognita: four doses of fluensulfone, one of the nematicide oxamyl and a control without application of nematicides. Ten days before transplanting, nematicides were applied in a single application via irrigation systems. The lowest final population densities of M. incognita in bell pepper crop were recorded in plots treated with fluensulfone at the dose of 2.75 L.ha-1, with an average of 25 juveniles. The higher percentage of efficacy was obtained with the application of fluensulfone at a dose of 2.75 L.ha-1. Fluensulfone showed a more efficient nematicidal activity as compared with oxamyl, which is the most used nematicide in horticultural crops in Mexico. Our results indicated that fluensulfone can be used as an alternative nematicide for the control of M. incognita in horticultural crops.

Agricultural-Grade Apple Cider Vinegar Is Remarkably Attractive to Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophiliadae) in Mexico.

Due to its availability and low cost, apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a frequently used as an attractant for monitoring the invasive spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii. In laboratory cage experiments, the attraction of ACV alone was compared with ACV in mixtures with different concentrations of acetic acid, propionic acid, different hydrolyzed proteins, synthetic fruit flavors (strawberry, blackberry and apple) and the addition of fruit nectars (grape, pineapple and apple). The addition of 5% apple nectar to ACV significantly increased fly captures, whereas other combinations were similar to or less attractive than ACV alone. Apple flavored vinegar was not attractive to flies. Captures did not vary significantly among the brands of ACV commonly sold in Mexico, except for one poorly-performing brand, but cup traps baited with an agricultural-grade ACV unfit for human consumption captured approximately two-fold more flies than the commercial attractants Suzukii Trap, Suzukii Trap Max Captures or ACV alone in cage experiments. Field trials performed in polytunnels planted with raspberry crops in Mexico resulted in two-fold to ten-fold higher numbers of D. suzukii captured by the agricultural-grade ACV compared to Droskidrink (a mixture of ACV, red wine and sugar), Suzukii Trap, Suzukii Trap Max Captures or edible grade ACV alone. The species selectivity of the agricultural grade ACV was similar to that of other attractants tested. Agricultural-grade ACV also captured higher numbers of female than male flies in field trials. We conclude that the remarkably high attractiveness and low cost of agricultural-grade ACV makes it a useful tool for monitoring D. suzukii populations in berry crops.

Cálculo de grados días de Hypothenemus hampei a través de imágenes satelitales

El café es uno de los cultivos más relevantes en México, su importancia radica en que es un cultivo sustentable, ha sido adoptado y adaptado por comunidades indígenas y genera divisas para el país. Una de las regiones caficultoras más importantes del país, es la del Pacífico Sur, compuesta por Chiapas, Oaxaca y Guerrero donde se produce 53% del café y se encuentra 60% de los productores de este aromático. La presencia de las plagas y enfermedades en el café puede generar pérdidas entre 30 al 50% de la producción. La broca de café Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) es el problema entomológico mas grave de este cultivo y su presencia en el país es de hace más de 40 años, actualmente se encuentra en todos los estados que cultivan café. Es por ello, que en este trabajo se generó una metodología práctica que calculó espacialmente los grados días de desarrollo de la broca de café a través de la temperatura de la superficie registrada por imágenes Modis con una resolución espacial de 1 km y con una resolución temporal de un día, monitoreando del 01 de abril de 2018 al 31 de marzo de 2019. Los resultados indicaron que en esta región se puede formar hasta 13 generaciones de la plaga, presentando riesgo en casi todo el año, tanto por el desarrollo como en la dispersión de la plaga. Esta metodología puede apoyar a fortalecer el monitoreo que se hace de la plaga en el país.

Evaluation of full-season programs for the management of Fusarium wilt of blackberry caused by a new lineage of the Fusarium oxysporum species complex

Wilt is currently the most critical disease affecting blackberry crops in Mexico, and more than 2,500 ha have been lost to the disease to date. Thus, the objectives of this research were: a) to determine the etiology of blackberry crop wilt in Mexico and b) to evaluate strategies for season-long integrated disease management. From 2013 to 2015, fungal isolates were recovered from the vascular tissue of symptomatic blackberry plants cv ‘Tupy.’ Morphological features were determined, and phylogenetic identification of the fungal isolates was performed by amplifying and sequencing the partial translation elongation factor (TEF-1 alpha) gene. Pathogenicity tests were completed in the greenhouse on 6-month-old blackberry plants from the same cultivar. Thirteen disease management programs consisting of fungicides, biocontrol agents, and plant resistance inducers were evaluated during the 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 growing seasons in a commercial plot with 30% disease incidence. The results of this study suggest that blackberry wilt in Mexico is caused by a new lineage in the F. oxysporum species complex. In the two crop seasons, the programs with the most consistent effect on the reduction of disease intensity were based on sequential applications of the microbial soil inoculant Maya Magic®. Also, those that started with 2 or 3 applications of prochloraz or difenoconazole followed with biweekly applications of the biostimulant Kendal Nem®. These results indicate the feasibility of using soil microbial inoculants and the integration of technologies for the season-long management of epidemics caused by F. oxysporum in infected commercial blackberry crops.

Agroclimatic Conditions for Growing Sorghum bicolor L. Moench, under Irrigation Conditions in Mexico

Faced with the possible depletion of fossil fuels and the growing demand for energy; the liquid biofuels are being considered as a renewable energy alternative with low impact on carbon emissions. Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench) is a good alternative as it has several advantages in relation to other plant species. Given the interest of the Mexican Government to promote biofuels and S. bicolor in particular, this work aimed to spatially delimit the optimal and suboptimal areas to produce this crop in Mexico. The database information considered was the crop agro-ecological requirements for optimal production under irrigation conditions. To process and analyze the information, the QGIS version 3.6 software was used. In high potential areas all variables interact favorably for best crop development and in the suboptimal ones both climatic and edaphological factors interact properly with some limitations; in the unsuitable areas all factors are constraining ones. The study quantified more than 19 million hectares with high optimal conditions under irrigation conditions. The states with the largest areas to produce sweet sorghum are: Veracruz, Campeche, Tamaulipas, Tabasco, Guanajuato, Sonora, Sinaloa, Nuevo Leon, Michoacan, Chihuahua and Quintana Roo; however, should water is provided, practically, it can be grown in all the states of the country.

Pollination by bats enhances both quality and yield of a major cash crop in Mexico

Abstract Bats pollinate many plants of high socio‐economic value, including the majority of columnar cacti (Cactaceae) in Mexico, which have been used by humans for food and materials for thousands of years. However, the importance of bats as pollinators has been overlooked, with a consequent lack of knowledge of the reliance of crops on bats for harvest yield and quality. We used exclusion experiments to determine the effect of different pollinator taxa on the yield and quality of pitayas (fruit of Stenocereus queretaroensis (F.A.C. Weber) Buxbaum), a major crop in central Mexico. We studied the three most economically important cultivars and wild individuals in the principal region for pitaya production. For each pollinator taxon we recorded fruit set and measured three key parameters of fruit quality: weight, sucrose concentration and seed set. We placed camera traps to determine pollinator identity and the effect of visitation rate on fruit quality. We found the primary pollinators of pitayas to be nectarivorous bats in the genus Leptonycteris. When bats were excluded from flowers and flowers were pollinated by other taxa (i.e. diurnal birds and insects), pitaya yield decreased by 35%, though pollination dependence varied between cultivars. Fruit quality decreased significantly in the absence of bat pollination across all cultivars, with fruits 46% lighter and 13% less sweet when pollinated by other taxa; reducing economic value, as size determines market price. Additionally, seed set (an indicator of effective pollination) was significantly lower in the absence of bat pollinators. Visitation rate had no effect on fruit quality. Synthesis and applications. Our study shows that bats provide a vital ecosystem service by pollinating a crop of major socio‐economic importance, and that consideration of both crop quality and yield are essential to fully understanding the benefits of bat pollination. A reduction of this service would result in a decrease in both the size and quality of the harvest, causing substantial loss of income for rural communities. Bats world‐wide face many threats, and management efforts targeted to the enhancement of wild bat pollinator populations would preserve the sustainability of both bat‐pollinated crops and wild plants.

Identification of New Hosts of Pseudocercospora fijiensis Suggests Innovative Pest Management Programs for Black Sigatoka Disease in Banana Plantations

Black Sigatoka is the main constraint to banana production worldwide, and epidemic outbreaks are continuously causing huge losses. Successful management of diseases requires a profound knowledge of the epidemiological factors that influence disease dynamics. Information regarding alternative hosts of Pseudocercospora fijiensis, the causal agent, is still very scarce. To date, only Heliconia psittacorum has been reported as an alternative plant host, and we hypothesized that other plants can house P. fijiensis. In the present report, ten plant species with suspicious leaf spots were collected inside and around commercial banana crops in Mexico. Diagnostic PCR gave positive amplification for six of these plant species, and DNA sequencing confirmed the presence of the pathogen in four. This is the first report of the presence of P. fijiensis in unrelated plants and it represents a breakthrough in the current knowledge of black Sigatoka. This finding is very important given the polycyclic nature of this disease whose successful management requires the control of initial inoculum to minimize epidemic outbreaks. The results presented herein can be used to introduce innovations in integrated black Sigatoka management programs to reduce initial inoculum, and help the international initiative to reduce the use of fungicides in banana production.

Distribución estomática en maíz a diferentes dosis de humus

Corn is the most important crop in Mexico, is the center of origin and diversity, as well as being an important part of its diet and culture, representing a deep relationship with its economy.Climatic and soil erosion projections force the study of the behavior of the crop in the face of possible changes, nowadays the modification of agroecological practices is important, one of them is the use of organic biofertilizers. Recent studies that determine the regulation of stomata development in grasses could be determined to improve plant efficiency and agricultural yield. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the effect of the use of organic fertilizers at different doses of humus in the stomatic distribution in corn plants. In this work the number of stomata in both the abaxial and the adaxial of the leaves was evaluated, as well as the length of stomata of corn plants grown with doses of 10, 20 and 30 ton/ha of humus.

Virulence Phenotypes on Chili Pepper for Phytophthora capsici Isolates from Michoacán, Mexico

Phytophthora blight of vegetables caused by Phytophthora capsici causes significant economic losses in production of Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae crops in Mexico. The development of universal resistant chili pepper cultivars is challenging due to the diverse virulence phenotypes produced by P. capsici. The objective of the study was to characterize the diversity of phenotypic interactions for P. capsici isolates recovered from production fields in Michoacán, Mexico, to facilitate the development of resistant cultivars. Virulence phenotypes were characterized for 12 isolates of P. capsici using 26 Capsicum annuum New Mexico Recombinant Inbred Lines (NMRILs) in greenhouse conditions. Criollo de Morelos CM-334 and California Wonder were used as resistant and susceptible controls, respectively. Seedlings at the four to eight true leaf stage were inoculated with 10,000 zoospores per seedling and disease severity was evaluated at 20 days post-inoculation. Two of the P. capsici isolates did not infect any pepper host even though the isolate was less than a year old. The 10 virulent isolates were designated in 10 virulence phenotypes. The information generated by this study is of utmost importance for efforts of producing resistant cultivars specific for Michoacán producers.

Efecto de inhibidores en el control del Papaya ringspot virus y productividad en papaya (Carica papaya)

La papaya (<em>Carica papaya</em>) es un frutal muy aceptado en el mercado de exportación por generar alta rentabilidad, en México se cultiva en zonas tropicales y subtropicales. El <em>Papaya ring spot virus</em> (PRSV) ocasiona la enfermedad más restrictiva de la producción de este cultivo en México y el mundo, por lo cual se evaluó la eficacia de Inhibitovir® y Virus Stop® en campo a 3 mL L-1 y 6 mL L-1 sobre incidencia, intensidad y control de la virosis, altura de planta, diámetro de tallo, número de flores y frutos, peso del fruto y rendimiento. El PRSV se detectó hasta el quinto mes después del trasplante, tiempo para que la plantación lograra un buen amarre de frutos, sin embargo, la eficacia de los inhibidores virales no tuvo diferencias significativas sobre plantas testigo infectadas con el PRSV, así como en altura de planta, diámetro de tallo, número de flores y frutos, peso del fruto y rendimiento.

When Less Is More: Sex Ratios for the Mass-Rearing of Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Anastrepha ludens (Loew) is one of the most important pests of citrus and mango crops in Mexico. A method used to control this pest is the sterile insect technique, which consists in the mass production, irradiation, and release of insects in affected areas. The production of insects begins with the establishment of colonies to produce eggs, which must be highly fertile to ensure an adequate production of larvae. However, female fecundity and fertility can be affected by adult density and sex ratio, thus an optimal sex ratio in mass-rearing cages must be used. The genetic sexing strain of A. ludens (Tapachula-7) allows the identification of the sex at the pupal stage, making it possible to establish rearing cages with different sex ratios. We determined if different sex ratios have an effect on egg production. Two sex ratios (4♀: 1♂ and 1♀: 1♂) were compared. Fecundity, fertility and survival at different ages were also determined. Higher fertility and fecundity per female were observed at a ratio of 4:1. However, females with higher fecundity had reduced survival probabilities. In conclusion, maintaining colonies with a lower proportion of males in cages ensures a greater fecundity and fertility. Further research is necessary to understand whether results can be attributed to lower male harassment in cages.

A spatio-temporal approach for the occurrence of traps capturing sexually mature Anastrepha ludens females over an extensive citrus area in Mexico

The Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens Loew (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a pest of citrus crops in Mexico. A two years study was conducted aimed to analyze the spatio-temporal occurrence of traps that capture sexually mature A. ludens females in a citrus area in Mexico. Generalized linear mixed models were used to evaluate the monthly fluctuation of traps that captured sexually mature A. ludens females. A non-parametric interpolation, the Voronoi diagrams, was used to analyze spatial patterns of such traps according to availability levels of commercial hosts. The monthly analysis revealed a high activity of sexually mature females linked to a high availability of commercial hosts such as the orange fruit cultivar ‘Valencia’ in January, February, March, and April. By contrast, negative trends were showed when a lower availability of commercial hosts was observed from May to September. The availability of grapefruit from October yielded an increase of traps with capture of mature females. A spatial heterogeneity was depicted by the Voronoi diagrams regarding the distribution of traps with mature females. Such spatial variability was linked to availability levels of the commercial hosts across the year. The prevalence of areas with high levels of mature females in autumn continued to be present until the spring. This study provided evidence of an intrapopulation variability of A. ludens associated with a geographical space and temporal patterns. Practical implications for an Area-Wide Integrated Pest Management (AW-IPM) approach are discussed.

EVOLUCIÓN DE LA SUPERFICIE CULTIVADA DE FRIJOL E IMPACTO ECONOMICO DE LA SEQUÍA SOBRE SU RENDIMIENTO BAJO CONDICIONES DE TEMPORAL EN MÉXICO

El frijol (Phaseolus vulgaris) es el segundo cultivo más importante en México, después del maíz por la superficie sembrada; sin embargo, de acuerdo con datos oficiales, en las últimas décadas han disminuido la superficie y producción, lo cual puede estar relacionado con la variabilidad del clima, en especial de la precipitación, en los ciclos de producción primavera-verano y otoño-invierno. El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar la evolución de la superficie de producción de frijol en temporal en México y la relación entre la sequía y el rendimiento en el periodo 1980-2016. Con información de las bases de datos disponibles del cultivo se analizó la evolución del área sembrada, cosechada y siniestrada, y del rendimiento de grano, y con información del clima se calculó el índice de sequía, que consiste en la desviación de la precipitación con respecto a la media normal (DP) para el periodo estudiado. Con base en la DP se fijó una variable de clasificación “Dummy” de sequía en una base de datos de 37 años, para 21 estados de México en el ciclo de primavera-verano y 10 en el ciclo de otoño-invierno. La DP y la variable de clasificación se analizaron mediante un modelo econométrico de efectos fijos. Con respecto a la evolución del cultivo, hubo incremento del área siniestrada y disminución tanto del área sembrada como del rendimiento. El modelo estimado para el ciclo primavera-verano fue significativo a una P ≤ 0.05, con una R2 de 0.55, que indica que la sequía reduce el rendimiento en 53 kg ha-1. El bajo ajuste de los modelos sugiere que hay otros factores, además de la precipitación, que afectan la producción de frijol de temporal en México.

EVOLUCIÓN DE LA SUPERFICIE CULTIVADA DE FRIJOL E IMPACTO ECONOMICO DE LA SEQUÍA SOBRE SU RENDIMIENTO BAJO CONDICIONES DE TEMPORAL EN MÉXICO

El frijol (Phaseolus vulgaris) es el segundo cultivo más importante en México, después del maíz por la superficie sembrada; sin embargo, de acuerdo con datos oficiales, en las últimas décadas han disminuido la superficie y producción, lo cual puede estar relacionado con la variabilidad del clima, en especial de la precipitación, en los ciclos de producción primavera-verano y otoño-invierno. El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar la evolución de la superficie de producción de frijol en temporal en México y la relación entre la sequía y el rendimiento en el periodo 1980-2016. Con información de las bases de datos disponibles del cultivo se analizó la evolución del área sembrada, cosechada y siniestrada, y del rendimiento de grano, y con información del clima se calculó el índice de sequía, que consiste en la desviación de la precipitación con respecto a la media normal (DP) para el periodo estudiado. Con base en la DP se fijó una variable de clasificación “Dummy” de sequía en una base de datos de 37 años, para 21 estados de México en el ciclo de primavera-verano y 10 en el ciclo de otoño-invierno. La DP y la variable de clasificación se analizaron mediante un modelo econométrico de efectos fijos. Con respecto a la evolución del cultivo, hubo incremento del área siniestrada y disminución tanto del área sembrada como del rendimiento. El modelo estimado para el ciclo primavera-verano fue significativo a una P ≤ 0.05, con una R2 de 0.55, que indica que la sequía reduce el rendimiento en 53 kg ha-1. El bajo ajuste de los modelos sugiere que hay otros factores, además de la precipitación, que afectan la producción de frijol de temporal en México.

Occurrence of Tomato brown rugose fruit virus Infecting Tomato Crops in Mexico

Occurrence of <i>Tomato brown rugose fruit virus</i> Infecting Tomato Crops in Mexico

Cross pathogenicity of Fusarium oxysporum isolated from peppers

A new case of Fusarium oxysporum (Fo) causing significant economic losses in pepper (Capsicum annuum) crops in Culiacan, Mexico was recently reported. To fight this newly discovered disease, it was necessary to analyze the host specificity to use this information in an integrated disease management. To achieve that, the host range of 10 strains of Fo collected from diseased pepper plants was checked on the following species: Capsicum annuum, Solanum lycopersicum, Nicotiana tabacum, Nicotiana bethamiana, Solanum melongenea, Phisalis ixocarpa, Cucurbita pepo, Cucumis sativus, Cucumis melo. These 10 strains were also tested on four differential tomato cultivars for Fo f. sp. lycopersici (Fol) races identification. Both assays were repeated twice under growth-chamber conditions. All 10 strains of Fo caused wilting symptoms on each of the species mentioned above, indicating that these strains have a wide host range. During race characterization assays, the typical phenotypic responses displayed by the four differentials ‘Bony Best’, ‘Manapal’, ‘Walter’ and ‘I3R3’ against these 10 strains, suggested that all these strains belong to Fol race 2 (Fol-2). These strains were tested by using PCR technique to detect the SIX genes specific for Fol races and the results indicated also that these strains belong to Fol-2. However, further molecular and vegetative compatibility group studies with these strains most be carry out to corroborate these results. To our knowledge, this is the first cross pathogenicity report of Fo in Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae crops in Mexico.

Arreglo espacial de cultivares de crisantemo (Dendrathema grandiflora) para disminuir daño por Botrytis

&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Botrytis cinerea&lt;/em&gt; (Teleomorfo: &lt;em&gt;Botryotinia fuckeliana)&lt;/em&gt; es el agente causal de la pudrición gris en crisantemo (&lt;em&gt;Dendrathema grandiflora&lt;/em&gt;), uno de los cultivos más importantes de flor de corte en México. Chena (Ch), cultivar de mayor demanda comercial, es más susceptible a dicho hongo respecto de cultivares como Flamingo (F) y Moreliana (M). En ésta investigación, se evaluó la incidencia de &lt;em&gt;B. cinerea&lt;/em&gt; y la calidad del tallo floral en el cultivar Chena, bajo tres arreglos espaciales: A1, Chena flanqueada por Flamingo (F-Ch-F); A2, Chena flanqueada por Moreliana (M-Ch-M) y A3 solamente Chena (Ch-Ch-Ch). Al corte del capítulo floral, &lt;em&gt;B. cinerea&lt;/em&gt; se presentó solamente en A3 (22 %) y en vida de florero a los 16 días, Chena en A3 mostró 100 % de infección, seguido de A1 y A2 con 15 y 0 %, respectivamente. La calidad del tallo floral de Chena (altura, diámetro del capítulo, grosor del tallo) en los arreglos A1 y A2 fue significativamente mayor (&lt;em&gt;P?0.05&lt;/em&gt;) respecto a A3. La baja incidencia de &lt;em&gt;B. cinerea&lt;/em&gt; en Chena en A1 y A2 indica que Flamingo y Moreliana actuaron como barreras laterales que pueden ser útiles para disminuir la incidencia de la enfermedad y el uso de fungicidas.&lt;/p&gt;

Date Palm Status and Perspective in Mexico

The Date palm (Phoenix dactilifera L.) was introduced to Mexico during the Spanish colonization, but its commercial production did not develop until the second half of the past century. A literature and field research, including a trip to the oases missions and main commercial production areas, allowed us to identify the actual status for this crop in Mexico. While the date culture in the old oases is fading, in the commercial production zones it is in active development. San Luis Rio Colorado and Mexicali Valley region, comprise 97% of the commercial crop production area of the country. The main cultivar is Medjool with 94% of the growing area; actual yields are around 7.9 ton/ha. Ongoing government support and motivated growers training will lead to the application of better crop practices. It is expected to increase yields around 10 ton/ha in the next 5 years. Commercial date production is focused on exports, the internal market is growing, as well as the transformation of the product. Knowledge of the actual trends of the crop will allow to understand their historic importance and its future potential as a commodity and food. Production practices, competitive advantages and research results are presented.

In vitro nematicidal activity of natural and semisynthetic cadinenes from Heterotheca inuloides against the plant-parasitic nematode Nacobbus aberrans (Tylenchida: Pratylenchidae).

Nacobbus aberrans (Tylenchida: Pratylenchidae) is one of the main plant-parasitic nematodes species that affects crops in Mexico, generating substantial economic losses. Traditionally, the control of the nematodes is carried out using chemical products; however, research efforts are presently focused on the search for new methods for the control of this pest. Natural products derived from plants are an alternative for the control of populations of plant-parasitic nematodes. The genus Heterotheca (Asteraceae) is characterized by containing sesquiterpenes with cadinane skeleton, and some species of this genus exert nematicidal activity. We determined the effects of selected Heterotheca inuloides plant metabolites and some semisynthetic derivatives on the hatching of eggs isolated from the gelatinous matrix and infective second-stage juveniles (J2) of the false root-knot nematode N. aberrans using an in vitro experimental model. Among the evaluated compounds, nematodes were more susceptible to hydroxylated and quinone compounds, whereas the remaining compounds showed moderate or no activity. The presence of the hydroxyl group is essential for nematicidal potential, with changes at the hydroxyl group modifying the nematicidal activity. Flowers of Heterotheca inuloides contain bioactive compounds that showed nematicidal activity against N. aberrans. Here we report the nematicidal activities of cadinenes isolated from the flowers of H. inuloides and their semisynthetic derivatives against the false root-knot nematode N. aberrans. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.