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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Control of the pinewood nematode (PWN), the causal agent of pine wilt disease, can be
achieved through the trunk injection of nematicides; however, many pesticides have been linked
to environmental and human health concerns. Essential oils (EOs) are suitable alternatives due
to their biodegradability and low toxicity to mammals. These complex mixtures of plant volatiles
often display multiple biological activities and synergistic interactions between their compounds.
The present work profiled the toxicity of eight EOs against the PWN in comparison to their 1:1
mixtures, to screen for successful synergistic interactions. Additionally, the main compounds of the
most synergistic mixtures were characterized for their predicted environmental fate and toxicity to
mammals in comparison to emamectin benzoate, a commercial nematicide used against PWN. The
mixtures of Cymbopogon citratus with Mentha piperita and of Foeniculum vulgare with Satureja montana
EOs showed the highest activities, with half-maximal effective concentrations (EC50) of 0.09 and
0.05 L/mL, respectively. For these, complete PWN mortality was reached after only ca. 15 min or
2 h of direct contact, respectively. Their major compounds had a higher predicted affinity to air and
water environmental compartments and are reported to have very low toxicity to mammals, with
low acute oral and dermal toxicities. In comparison, emamectin benzoate showed lower nematicidal
activity, a higher affinity to the soil and sediments environmental compartments and higher reported
oral and dermal toxicity to mammals. Overall, uncovering synergistic activities in combinations
of EOs from plants of different families may prove to be a source of biopesticides with optimized
toxicity against PWNs.
Description
Keywords
biopesticide essential oils Cymbopogon citratus Foeniculum vulgare Mentha piperita nematicide pest management pine wilt disease Satureja montana synergism
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Faria, J.M.S.; Cavaco, T.; Gonçalves, D.; Barbosa, P.; Teixeira, D.M.; Moiteiro, C.; Inácio, M.L. First report on the synergistic interaction between essential oils against the pinewood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Plants 2023, 12, 2438.
Publisher
MDPI