title: Potent Nematicidal Activity of Maleimide Derivatives on Meloidogyne incognita.
abstract: Different maleimide derivatives were synthesized and assayed for their in vitro activity on the soil inhabiting, plant-parasitic nematode Meloidogyne incognita, also known as root-knot nematode. The compounds maleimide, N-ethylmaleimide, N-isopropylmaleimide, and N-isobutylmaleimide showed the strongest nematicidal activity on the second stage juveniles of the root-knot nematode with EC50/72h values of 2.6 ± 1.3, 5.1 ± 3.4, 16.2 ± 5.4, and 19.0 ± 9.0 mg/L, respectively. We also determined the nematicidal activity of copper sulfate, finding an EC50 value of 48.6 ± 29.8 mg/L. When maleimide at 1 mg/L was tested in combination with copper sulfate at 50 mg/L, we observed 100% mortality of the nematodes. We performed a GC-MS metabolomics analysis after treating nematodes with maleimide at 8 mg/L for 24 h. This analysis revealed altered fatty acids and diglyceride metabolites such as oleic acid, palmitic acid, and 1-monopalmitin. Our results suggest that maleimide may be used as a new interesting building block for developing new nematicides in combination with copper salts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari , via Ospedale 72, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Kodjo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eloh
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari , via Ospedale 72, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Demurtas
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari , via Ospedale 72, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Manuel Giacomo
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Mura
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari , via Ospedale 72, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deplano
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari , via Ospedale 72, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Onnis
authors.affiliation: Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, CNR , via G. Amendola 122/D, 70126 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sasanelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari , via Ospedale 72, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maxia
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari , via Ospedale 72, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caboni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008301:Maleimides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014431:Tylenchoidea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D008301:Maleimides; C043592:maleimide
keywords: V-ATPase; metabolomics; nematicide; oxidative stress; redox-active metals