Nematicidal activity of Citrullus colocynthis extracts against root-knot nematodes

The nematicidal activity of Citrullus colocynthis seed, pulp, fruit and creeper extracts were evaluated against rootknot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) at 28 ± 2 ˚C in laboratory. Gas chromatograph interfaced to a Mass spectrometer (GC-MS) results indicated that C. colocynthis contains various bioactive compounds. The mentholic extracts of seed had the highest mortality (100%) at highest exposure time (72 hrs) while, the pulp and fruit extracts showed 60 and 80% mortality, respectively. Among various extracts of creeper hexane extract (HH-CC) showed 100% mortality after 72 hrs at all concentrations as compared with standard carbofuran. Whereas, HE-CC and HWCC showed 100% mortality only at highest concentrations after 72 hrs. Ethyl acetate fraction was most active at highest concentrations causing 60% nematode mortality after 72 hrs. However, aqueous fraction (1 and 0.5) showed 40% mortality after 72 hrs exposure.