Control of plant parasitic nematodes with active saponins and biomass from Medicago sativa
Medicago sativa L., alfalfa, is the most known plant species within the Medicago genus. The plant has been extensively studied for its content of saponins, mainly consisting of triterpene glycosides of medicagenic acid, possessing several biological properties including a biocidal activity on differ...
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Published in | Phytochemistry reviews Vol. 10; no. 4; pp. 503 - 519 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Dordrecht
Springer Netherlands
01.12.2011
Springer Nature B.V |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Medicago sativa
L., alfalfa, is the most known plant species within the
Medicago
genus. The plant has been extensively studied for its content of saponins, mainly consisting of triterpene glycosides of medicagenic acid, possessing several biological properties including a biocidal activity on different soil microorganisms. Phytoparasitic nematodes are responsible for heavy economic damages to numerous agricultural crops and, due to their large distribution, they are among the most difficult crop pests to control. Attention on environmental safety and human and animal health has led to the progressive dismission of many synthetic formulations for the control of those pests and to the search of alternative strategies, including the use of natural metabolites from plants. Saponins from
M. sativa
may be good candidates for natural nematicide formulations, as in our in vitro studies the saponin mixtures from
M. sativa
tissues have been found effective in vitro against the virus-vector nematode
Xiphinema index
, the root-knot nematode
Meloidogyne incognita
and the potato cyst parasite,
Globodera rostochiensis
. A structure–activity relationship among saponins and related prosapogenins and sapogenin, respectively, has also been analyzed. The nematicidal efficacy differed among the three assayed nematode species,
G. rostochiensis
being the most susceptible to the active compounds from alfalfa. The in vitro results were also confirmed by experiments in potting mixes infested by
M. incognita
or
G. rostochiensis
and amended with dry top and root material from
M. sativa
, and in field trials on
M. incognita
and carrot cyst nematode
Heterodera carotae
with
M. sativa
pelleted meal. All amendments reduced root and soil population densities of target nematode species compared to non-treated and chemical controls, with a general improvement of plant growth and yield performances. |
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ISSN: | 1568-7767 1572-980X |
DOI: | 10.1007/s11101-010-9180-2 |