Abstract:
Plant-parasitic nematodes pose a significant threat to finger millet crops, poten-
tially causing yield reduction of up to 70%. Extracts derived from finger millet vari-
eties contain potent bioactive compounds that can mitigate nematode damage and
promote plant growth. This study aimed at isolating and characterizing bioactive
compounds from the finger millet varieties Ikhulule, Okhale-1, and U-15; evaluat-
ing the impact of Ikhulule and U-15 extracts on the mortality of the root lesion
nematode Pratylenchus vandenbergae; assessing the growth promotion effects of
Ikhulule and U-15 extracts on the finger millet variety Okhale-1; and determining
the efficacy of these extracts in managing plant-parasitic nematodes under green-
house conditions. Extracts were obtained from both leaves and roots and tested
in vitro for nematode mortality and in vivo for growth promotion and nematode
control. The results showed that finger millet extracts exhibited strong nematicidal
properties in vitro, achieving a mortality rate of up to 98% against P. vandenbergae
nematodes. Applying these extracts to finger millet shoots significantly reduced
nematode populations in both soil and roots and decreased the reproductive fac-
tor to below one (1), indicating an effective nematode control. The study attributes
the enhanced nematicidal effects of finger millet extracts to their bioactive com-
pounds, particularly dodecanoic acid, phytol, 1,1,4a-trimethyl- 6-decahydro naph-
thalene, 2,3-dihydro-benzofuran, 2-methoxy- 4-vinylphenol and ethyl ester, and
hexadecanoic acid. These findings suggest that finger millet- derived extracts offer
a natural solution for nematode management and broader agronomic benefits, ulti-
mately contributing to overall plant health and productivity.
