Abstract

Nematicidal activity of selected parts of medicinal plants including Acacia leucophloea(bark), Sphaeranthus indicus (flowers), Amaranthus spinuosus (whole plant), Semecarpus anacardium (fruit), Capparis deciduas (root), Saussurea lappa (rhizome) and Albizia lebbeck (seed, flower and bark) has been carried out to evaluate their potential toxicity against second stage juveniles of nematode Cephalobus litoralis and Helicotylenchus indicus. In vitro results showed that methanolic extract of these plants caused appreciable mortality of second stage juveniles of C. litoralis and H. indicus. Concentrations used were 2 and 1% and was found more effective and produced significant results as compared to 0.5%. The mortality rate increased with increasing exposure time and was highest after 72 h.

Key word: Acacia leucophloea, Helicotylenchus indicus, pesticide.