ÓLEO ESSENCIAL DE COPAÍBA: EFICIENTE NO CONTROLE DO NEMATOIDE DE GALHAS Meloidogyne javanica

Abstract

Plant-parasitic nematodes of the genus Meloidogyne, also known as root-knot nematodes, cause significant damage to agricultural crops, compromising crop production and quality. Effective control of these pathogens is vital for agricultural sustainability. Copaiba, also known as pau-d'óleo, is a native tree of the Cerrado, recognized for its medicinal properties and antimicrobial action, demonstrating potential as a natural nematicide. Plant-derived essential oils (OEC) have been explored as promising tools for nematode management. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of copaiba essential oil in the control of Meloidogyne javanica, with emphasis on juvenile hatching. The assay was carried out under controlled conditions in the Nematology laboratory in test tubes incubated in BOD at 28 ºC. Meloidogyne javanica eggs were extracted from the roots of the gilo. Different concentrations of OEC were used in the treatments: (T0 (water), T1 (10μL), T2 (5μL), T3 (2.5μL), T4 (1.25μL), T5 (0.625μL) and six replicates following the completely randomized design. The evaluation of the J2 hatching rate was performed at 7 days of incubation. The data were subjected to regression analysis in the Excel program. The results revealed that increasing concentrations of OEC resulted in greater inhibition of the hatching of J2 of M. javanica. The treatment T1 (10 μL) caused 58.90% inhibition, T2 (5 μL) 56.77%, highlighting T3 (2.5 μL) with 67.76% reduction in the hatching rate. These results demonstrate the potential of OEC as a nematicidal agent against M. javanica, offering a sustainable approach for the control of these pathogens in infested agricultural systems.

Keywords: Root-knot nematode. Copaifera langsdorffii. Nematicidal activity. Alternative control.