Chemical control of nematodes

The demand
The elimination of nematodes from some crops is
essential for certain export requirements, particularly
of high-value horticultural products. Chemical
treatment with fumigants or nematicides may be the
only technique available, and from the plant
quarantine standpoint it is important that their use is
retained.
Efficacy
Fumigants.Several general purpose fumigants
give excellent control of nematodes in soil. The
efficacy is related to their high volatility at
ambient temperatures. All fumigants have low
molecular weights and occur as gases or liquids.
As they volatilize, the gas diffuses through the
spaces between soil particles; nematodes living in
these spaces are killed.

Plant-parasitic nematodes are at their most

vulnerable during their active phase in soil when
searching for the roots of host plants. Once
endoparasitic species have penetrated a root,
control with chemicals is more difficult as
nematicidal compounds have to be non-phytotoxic
and preferably systemic.

Important Considerations:

costs and economics; use restricted primarily to higher value

crops in cash economy.

phytotoxicity; may only be available for preplant use.

lack of specificity; disruption of the soil food web, including

antagonists, competitors and beneficials.

residue problems; soil, groundwater, food - Prop 65 and other

legislation.

non-visible target; volumes of soil are treated rather than foci

of infestation; saturation rather than precision application.

movement and persistence; chemical may have to permeate

the soil from the site of application in order to contact target
nematodes, and be sufficiently persistent to achieve lethal
concentrations at each site.

Important Considerations:
dissipation; after lethal dose has been delivered, chemical
should break down or otherwise dissipate in the environment to
allow plant growth and soil food web recovery.
amounts and technology for application; volume of soil to be
treated requires transportation, handling and application of large
volumes of toxic materials. Older equipment introduced
fumigants to appropriate soil depths but was not well-engineered
for ensuring transfer to and from the delivery tank without
escape to the atmosphere or human exposure.
human toxicity; health hazards and risks associated with
volatility, manufacture, handling, application and accidents;
materials may have high mammalian toxicity and/or be suspected
carcinogens..

Nematicide grouping
There are two main categories of chemical
nematicides based on their volatility - non-fumigants
and fumigants.
1. Fumigant nematicides disperse through the
soil as a result of their volatility.
2. Non-fumigant nematicides must be
mechanically mixed throughout the soil profile, or
spread in aqueous solution

Non-fumigant Nematicides
Two main groups of chemicals, carbamates and
organophosphates, and some alternative materials.
1. Carbamates:
O
all have O-C-NH-CH3 group
applied to soil in water or incorporated
Examples:
1.1. Temik (aldicarb), manufacturer: RhonePoulenc, 1965
contact and systemic nematicide, insecticide,
acaricide
granular formulation

Non-fumigant Nematicides
1.2. Furadan (carbofuran)

Manufacturer: Mobay, Introduced: 1969

contact and systemic nematicide, insecticide
granular and liquid formulations
Category I pesticide
under EPA review - bird toxicity
EPA Administrative Review, August 2006.

1.3. Vydate

(oxamyl)

Manufacturer: Dupont; Introduced: 1972

contact and systemic nematicide, insecticide
also considered to have systemic action
liquid formulation
Category I pesticide

Non-fumigant Nematicides
1.4. Standak(aldoxycarb)

Manufacturer: BASF; Introduced: 1976

contact and systemic nematicide, insecticide
liquid formulation?
Category I pesticide

Non-fumigant Nematicides
2. Organophosphates:
all contain P and S groups
applied to soil in water or incorporated.
2.1. Dasanit (fensulfothion)
Manufacturer: Bayer; Introduced: 1957
contact nematicide, insecticide
granular and liquid formulations
Category I pesticide

Non-fumigant Nematicides
2.2. Mocap (ethoprop)

Manufacturer: Bayer; Introduced: 1963

contact nematicide, insecticide
granular and liquid formulations
Category II pesticide

Non-fumigant Nematicides
2.3. Nemacur (phenamiphos, fenamiphos)
Manufacturer: Bayer; Introduced: 1969.
contact and systemic nematicide, insecticide
granular (10G and 15G) and liquid (Nemacur 3)
formulations. The Nemacur 3 formulation is used
in tree and vine plantings in California. Withdraw
the registration of Nemacur in the USA effective
May 31, 2007.
Category I pesticide
Active ingredient (35%): Ethyl 3-methyl-4(methylthio)phenyl-(1methylethyl)phosphoramidate
Phenamiphos is reported to become less effective
when applied repeatedly to soils, possibly due to

Non-fumigant Nematicides
3. Other Modes of Action:
3.1. ClandoSan (chitin+urea) Manufacturer: Igene, 1985?
enhances chitinolytic fungi
granular formulation
natural nematicide made from crab and crawfish
exoskeletons The product acts in soils as a
biological control agent by stimulating the
growth of normal soil microorganisms, which
produce chitinase, and other enzymes that
degrade chitin present in the cuticles and
eggs of plant-pathogenic nematodes.
ClandoSan(R) does not have a direct adverse
effect on plant-pathogenic nematodes either
in vitro or in sterilized or irradiated soils and

Non-fumigant Nematicides
3.2. DiTera

(fungal metabolite)

Manufacturer: Abbott Labs. Now by

Valent Biosciences; 1996;
Antibiotic from Myrothecium verrucaria.
DiTera ES is a liquid formulation.
DiTera G and DiTera WDG are granular
formulations.
Good mammalian and non-target
toxicity characteristics.
DiTera WDG is listed by the Organic
Materials Review Institute (OMRI) for
use in organic production
Recommendations for DiTera use in
vineyards

Non-fumigant Nematicides

3.3. Nema-Q
MontereyAg Resources
Main ingredients are saponins
from Quillaja saponaria trees
(Soapbark), native to Chile.
OMRI Listed for organic
production.
Liquid extracts of tree biomass
are refined to remove colloids
then heat concentrated.
Rich in saponins, polyphenols,
sugars and salts.

Non-fumigant Nematicides
3.4. Movento
Manufacturer: Bayer CropScience, 2008.
Lipid biosynthesis inhibitor based on the Tetramic
acids
Movento is described by the manufacturer as "a
revolutionary new insecticide with unique 2-way
systemicity, which distributes the active
ingredient upwards and downwards in the plant"
Grapes, citrus, vegetables, tree fruits, tree nuts,
Christmas trees and hops.
Exudes into the rhizosphere and kills both plantand microbial-feeding nematodes.
To maximize leaf uptake and systemicity, Movento
must be mixed with a spray adjuvant that provides

Non-fumigant Nematicides
3.5. DRAGONFIRE-CPP
DRAGONFIRE-CPP is a sesame oil derived from a
wild cultivar of Sesamum indicum (Botanical
Nematicide, Fungicide, and Insecticide).
Containing aldehyde, ketones and linolenic acids
Nematodes are deterred from feeding on the plant
once the DRAGONFIRE-CPP has been absorbed
by the plant roots. Ingestion by the nematode
produces death due to the drying effects of the
linoleic and lioleic acids. Contact with the CPP
compounds causes the nematodes to become
lethargic and affects the reproduction cycle. Longterm effects are a reduction of population and an
opportunity for plant recovery and growth.

Non-fumigant Nematicides
3.6. Furfural
2-furfuraldehyde, a derivative of pentose sugars
Furfural is formed from pentosan, a five-carbon
cellulose which occurs in corncobs, bagasse, wood
chips and other organic material. The organic
source is heated to 100C, the pentosan is
hydrolysed to the soluble sugar pentose (xylose)
and dissolves in the available water
Toxicity:
LD50 (oral) for a mouse : 400 mg/kg
LD50 (oral) for a rat : 127 mg/kg
LD50 (oral) for a guinea pig : 541 mg/kg