Ane. Birch et al., DMDP - A PLANT-DERIVED SUGAR ANALOG WITH SYSTEMIC ACTIVITY AGAINST PLANT-PARASITIC NEMATODES, Nematologica, 39(4), 1993, pp. 521-535
The naturally occurring sugar analogue DMDP (2,5-Dihydroxymethyl-3, 4-
dihydroxypyrrolidine) also known as (2R, 3R, 4R, 5R) -2,5-bis (hydroxy
methyl)pyrrolidine-3, 4-diol), has been isolated from tropical legumes
in the genera Lonchocarpus and Derris, and found to have a range of a
ctivities against several plant parasitic nematode species. In vitro s
tudies demonstrated that DMDP at 25 mug ml-1 inhibited cyst hatch of G
lobodera pallida by 41%, and at 1000 muM ml-1 immobilised 53% of G. ro
stochiensis juveniles after 72 h exposure. DMDP applied as a foliar sp
ray showed systemic activity and decreased root galling of tomato by M
eloidogyne spp. It was also effective when applied as a soil drench or
seed dressing. The compound applied as a 30 mug ml-1 soil drench also
inhibited virus acquisition and transmission, and root galling by Xip
hinema diversicaudatum on Petunia. At 100 mug ml-1 DMDP enhanced the c
ontrol of Globodera spp. on the partially resistant potato cv. Heather
, reducing both the number of cysts/root and eggs/g soil. The potentia
l of this systemic, phloem-mobile plant compound in the integrated con
trol of nematodes is discussed.