Study on the control effect of fennel (Foeniculum vulgaris) and stinging nettle leaf (Urtica dioica) extract against root knot nematode in cucumber plant

The nematicidal effect of aquatic and alcoholic extracts of fennel and nettle plants against the root-knot nematode (M. javanica) in cucumber plants was studied under the greenhouse condition. The crude extract of dried leaf material of fennel and nettle crude extracts were extracted by soxhlet apparatus. A number of 1000 second-stage juvenile of the nematode as well as egg masses was added to the hybrid cucumber plant Beit Alpha 192 F1. The aquatic and alcoholic fennel and nettle crude extracts were added directly into the soil rhizosphere in the pods at the concentrations of 100 and 200 ppm, 10 days post inoculation. The chlorophyll content was assessed up to 15 days after extract addition. The second-stage juvenile of the nematode, egg mass, nematode gall and growth factors of the treated plants evaluated two month after extract addition. Experiments were carried out as factorial based on completely randomized design with 3 replications. Results indicated that the disease severity of the nematode reduced three times in comparison to the infected none treated control plant. Significant increase in the growth factors and chlorophyll content in fennel and nettle crude extracts treated plants was also observed. It was also revealed that the fennel crude extracts were more effective in controlling the nematode compared to the nettle extract. Aquatic fennel crude extract at the concentration of 100 ppm showed the best nematicidal activity.