PLANT-PRODUCTS TO CONTROL PLANT-PARASITIC NEMATODES

Plants produce a wide range of defensive compounds (allomones) to prot ect themselves from predators and pathogens. Selected allomones have b een screened against plant parasitic nematodes for a range of activiti es such as anti-hatching, repellent, nematotoxic, anti-feedant or anti -virus vectoring activities and inhibition of female development. Plan t-growth stimulation and anti-nematode activities complementary to hos t-plant resistance were also studied. Examples are presented of ways i n which plant-derived compounds can interfere with the life cycles of nematodes and their close relationships with host plants. The potentia l of plant-derived compounds in future environmentally benign integrat ed pest management of nematodes is discussed.