Essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis in the control of Meloidogyne javanica and Pratylenchus brachyurus in soybean

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the nematicidal activity of the essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis applied directly to the soil to control Meloidogyne javanica and Pratylenchus brachyurus in soybean. The experiments were conducted in the greenhouse in a fully randomized design with a 4 x 2 factorial arrangement consisting of four concentrations of oil (0, 1, 2 and 3%) and two treatment frequencies (fortnightly and monthly), with four replications. Plantlets of soybean cv. CD 206 were transplanted to 1-liter pots and the first treatment applied one day after transplanting. One week after this treatment, the pots were inoculated with 2000 eggs of M. javanica or 1000 specimens of P. brachyurus per plant. The plants were collected 60 days after inoculation and plant growth variables assessed (height, aerial part fresh weight, root fresh weight and aerial part dry weight). The galls number and eggs per gram of root was assessed for M. javanica and the number of nematodes per gram of root and per 100 cm3 soil for P. brachyurus. Was observed that the population of M. javanica was reduced by R. officinalis essential oil, but none of the concentrations studied affected the population of P. brachyurus.