Sublethal concentrations of conventional nematicides alter the physiological activities of Meloidogyne incognita and suppress parasitism

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 13; no. 1; p. 229
• Main Authors: Abdel-Rahman, Abdullah A., Kesba, Hosny H., Mohamed, Hoda G., Kamel, Donia F., Ahmed, Fatma S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 05.01.2023; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/378; 631/45; 631/601; Acetylcholinesterase; Agriculture; Animals; Antinematodal Agents - pharmacology; Biomarkers; Chemotaxis; Eggs; Enzymatic activity; Enzymes; Experiments; Fenamiphos; Fertility; Humanities and Social Sciences; Infections; Meloidogyne incognita; Minors; multidisciplinary; Nematicides; Nematodes; Parasitism; Pesticides; Physiology; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Tylenchoidea - physiology
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-27270-z

Reducing nematicide dose rates could be a useful strategy for mitigating their negative effects on health and the environment. In this study, enzymatic activities and the parasitic ability of Meloidogyne incognita after exposure to sub-lethal concentrations (0.25, 1, 2, and 5 ppm) of ethoprophos, fenamiphos, and oxamyl were investigated. Although the tested concentrations did not show nematicidal properties in vitro, they reduced root galls by at least 30% at 0.25 ppm and up to 67% at 5 ppm in pots, besides disrupting nematode fertility. For all three nematicides at 2 ppm, a chemotaxis assay showed that ≤ 11% of the nematode population was successfully oriented to the host roots, compared to 44% in the control. Ethoprophos and fenamiphos at 5 ppm showed poor inhibitory effects on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity (5.6% and 12.5%, respectively). In contrast, the same nematicides were shown to be strong ATPase inhibitors, causing 82.4% and 82.8% inhibition, respectively. At the same concentration, oxamyl moderately inhibited AChE and ATPase-specific activities, the inhibition being 22.5% and 35.2%, respectively. This study suggests that the use of very low nematicide concentrations could be a promising strategy for nematode management. Furthermore, it has also highlighted the role of ATPases as a possible target site for suppressing nematode activity in the development of future nematicides.