Toxicity of Kaempferia galanga rhizome constituents to Meloidogyne incognita juveniles and eggs

The toxicity of Kaempferia galanga rhizome constituents to second-stage juveniles (J2) and eggs of Meloidogyne incognita was examined in vitro and in container experiments. Results were compared with those of three nematicides: carbofuran, fosthiazate and metam sodium. Ethyl cinnamate (EC) and ethyl p-methoxycinnamate (EMC) were the nematicidal and hatch inhibitory principles. In direct-contact mortality bioassays, EC 0.037 mg ml–1) and EMC (0.041 mg ml–1) were more toxic than carbofuran (0.092 mg ml–1) but less toxic than fosthiazate (0.002 mg ml–1) towards J2 based upon 48 h LC50 values. EC and EMC treatments resulted in 100% and 93 and 81% inhibition of hatch at 125.0 and 62.5 μg ml–1, respectively. Inhibition of these compounds was higher than carbofuran and metam sodium but significantly lower than fosthiazate. In contact +fumigant mortality bioassays with J2, EC and EMC applied at 0.25 and 0.125 mg (g soil)–1resulted in 81 and 80% and 77 and 73% mortality, respectively, while carbofuran and metam sodium treatments resulted in 86 and 96% and 57 and 73% mortality, respectively. Fosthiazate resulted in 92% mortality at 0.063 mg (g soil)–1. In vapour-phase mortality bioassays with J2, EC and EMC were more effective in a closed container than in an open one, indicating that mode of delivery was, in part, a result of vapour action. Global efforts to reduce the level of highly toxic synthetic nematicides in the agricultural environment justify further studies on K. galanga rhizome-derived materials, particularly ethyl cinnamate and ethyl p-methoxycinnamate, as potential nematicides and hatching inhibitors for the control of M. incognita as fumigants with contact action.

Advances in understanding the mode of action of MBT fungicide used in wood protection

Interactions between methylene bisthiocyanate (MBT) and common wood degrading fungi of Pinus radiata were investigated The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of MBT was determined in yeastmalt liquid medium and on radiata pine Higher treatment concentrations of MBT were required to control fungal growth on wood than in liquid culture irrespective of the test fungus used There were significant differences between the test fungi for MIC levels of MBT on diptreated wood with the highest degree of tolerance observed for Trichoderma viride (MIC le; 064 w/v) Further experiments suggested that vapour action and diffusibility both contributed to the fungitoxicity of MBT