title: Nematicidal activity of furanocoumarins from parsley against Meloidogyne spp.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This report describes activity against Meloidogyne spp. and chemical characterisation of the essential oil and methanol extract of Petroselinum crispum aerial parts. The study was based on the hypothesis that P. crispum could be used as an intercrop and soil amendment in tomato culture for nematode control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The methanol extract and the essential oil exhibited significant nematicidal activity against M. incognita, M. hapla and M. arenaria, the first being the most sensitive species, with EC50 /72 h values of 140 ± 15 and 795 ± 125 mg L(-1) for the extract and oil respectively. The most abundant furanocoumarin compounds in the methanolic extract were xanthotoxin, psoralen, bergapten and oxypeucedanin; levels ranged from 1.77 to 46.04 mg kg(-1) wet weight. The EC50 /24 h values of xanthotoxol, psoralen and xanthotoxin against M. incognita were 68 ± 33, 147 ± 88 and 200 ± 21 mg L(-1) respectively. The addition of fresh parsley paste to soil reduced the number of M. incognita females and plant galls on tomato roots; EC50 values were 24.79 and 28.07 mg g(-1) respectively. Moreover, parsley paste enhanced tomato growth in a dose-response manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parsley exhibits promising nematicidal activity as an organic amendment and as a source of nematotoxic furanocoumarins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caboni
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saba
authors.affiliation: Pesticide Science Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Chrisostomos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oplos
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Nadhem
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aissani
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maxia
authors.affiliation: Pesticide Science Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Urania
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Menkissoglu-Spiroudi
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Casu
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Nikoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ntalli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D011564:Furocoumarins; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000469:parasitology; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry; D010571:Pest Control; D028528:Petroselinum / Q000737:chemistry*; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000469:parasitology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014431:Tylenchoidea
chemical_list: D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D011564:Furocoumarins; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Petroselinum crispum; allelochemical; essential oil; root-knot nematode; soil amendment