Fractions from Mangifera indica as an Alternative in Meloidogyne incognita Management

Abstract

Pesticide residues and metabolites are often found in fruits, vegetables, soil and underground water as contaminants. This necessitated the search for bio-nematicides, accordingly the nematicidal prospect of chromatographic fractions from Mangifera indica as a substitute to synthetic nematicides in the control of Meloidogyne incognita pests of tomato was evaluated. Crude extracts of M. indica bark was fractionated on silica-gel (120-150 mesh) using glass column. The resulting fractions were investigated in screenhouse and field trials. The fractions were equated with carbofuran a synthetic nematicide. Each experimental pot containing 40 kg of pasteurized soil was inoculated with 1000 eggs of M. incognita in the screenhouse, while 2500 eggs was introduced to the base of each tomato plant on the field. Significant (p<0.05) increase was noted in the vegetative growth of treated tomato plants. Fruit weight per plant and number of fruits per plant increased notably as opposed to the untreated tomato plants. Nematode population in root and soil of treated tomato plants also reduced significantly. Terpenes, esters, aldehydes, phenols and ketones were identified as the major constituents of the fractions with partial characterization. The reduction in nematode population in the screenhouse and field signifies that fractions from M. indica could be employed in place of the environmentally undependable synthetic nematicides, while encouraging a sustainable and safe environment in tomato cultivation.