Abstract
Root knot nematodes, Meloidogyne species cause severe losses to economically important crops. Synthetic nematicides put some major threats to humans and environment, that’s why there is a need to find some environmentally safe control measures against root knot nematodes. Efficacy of seeds of some plants belonging to family Apiaceae viz., Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague ex Turrill, Coriandrum sativum L., Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Anethum graveolens L. and Cuminum cyminum L. were evaluated against Root knot nematodes, Meloidogyne javanica (Treub) Chitwood, in vitro. Nematode eggs and juveniles were exposed for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h to crude aqueous extract of seeds powder for hatching and mortality test. Significant results were obtained in egg hatching and juvenile mortality test in all treatments and time durations. While T. ammi, C. sativum, A. graveolens were found to be hundred percent effective in killing juveniles and preventing egg hatching in vitro. Drenching and seed treatment by aqueous extracts of these seeds on okra and cowpea crops also exhibited significant enhancement in growth by all treatments. Aqueous extracts of Trachyspermum ammi and Anethum graveolens seeds were found to have best effects on growth parameters of okra and cowpea plants. The plants treated with aqueous extract of Foeniculum vulgare Mill., C. cyminum L. and C. sativum L. seeds had least root-knots.
