Phytochemical Screening and Nematicidal Activity of Lixiviate from Plantain and Banana Rachis

Abstract

Nematodes are among the most economically damaging parasites of bananas (Musa AAA) and plantains (Musa AAB). The restriction on the use of nematicides has encouraged the development of alternative strategies. This work aimed to study the effects of plantain and banana lixiviate on Pratylenchus coffeae and Radopholus similis in vitro essay. P. coffeae and R. similis were exposed to four concentrations (5%, 15%, 25% and 35%) of each lixiviate for 48 hrs. These effects were compared with a water control and Fluopyram at 10%. Then they were transferred to water for 24 hours to assess the viability of the immobile nematodes. The percentages of immobility and mortality of the nematodes were determined. A phytochemical screening of plantain and banana lixiviate to identify their composition in secondary metabolites was also performed. Lixiviate presented nematostatic activity at 15%. Also, lixiviate showed nematicide activity at 25% and 35%. The percentage of mortality was higher in Pratylenchus coffeae than in Radopholus similis (40% against 30% for plantain lixiviate and 39% against 29% for banana lixiviate). The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of secondary metabolites in proportions which vary few in the two compounds. In this study, we showed that plantain and banana lixiviate can be encouraging for developing methods for the biological control of banana parasitic nematodes.