Abstract

Noura Chihani-Hammas*, Lobna Hajji-Hedfi, Asma Larayedh, Hajer Regaieg and Najet Horrigue-Raouani

Nematicidal activity of an aqueous extract from dried leaves of Eucalyptus globulus was evaluated towards the root lesion nematode Pratylenchus vulnus in vitro and pot experiment. In both experiments, the application of four concentrations of the leaf aqueous extract (100%, 60%, 30%, 15% w/v) significantly reduced the number of females and males on apple rootstock MM106 roots. In vitro test showed that the highest net mortality was recorded with the concentration 100% (96%) after 72 hrs of exposure time. Pot experiment studies indicated that the concentration 100 increased significantly (P <0.05) the female and male reduction rates (84.43% and 91.40% respectively) compared to others leaf extracts concentrations. The chemical treatment with Oxamyl G (Oxamyl granule) reduced significantly female and male rates by 98.30% and 100%, respectively. The chemical analysis of dried leaves of Eucalyptus globulus showed high levels of total phenols and total flavonoids contents and exhibited high antioxidant capacity. The results suggest that the leaf aqueous extracts of Eucalyptus globulus had a promising nematicide potential against root lesion nematodes.