Molecular mechanism of Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Citrus aurantium essential oils against the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita

Abstract The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita is the most harmful and destructive nematode species due to its widespread distribution and its ability to destroy a wide range of agriculturally and economically important crops. Plant-derived essential oils (EO) are one of the promising strateg...

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Main Authors: Elena Fanelli, Alessio Vovlas, Trifone D’Addabbo, Francesca De Luca
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-02-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90529-8
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author Elena Fanelli
Alessio Vovlas
Trifone D’Addabbo
Francesca De Luca
author_facet Elena Fanelli
Alessio Vovlas
Trifone D’Addabbo
Francesca De Luca
author_sort Elena Fanelli
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita is the most harmful and destructive nematode species due to its widespread distribution and its ability to destroy a wide range of agriculturally and economically important crops. Plant-derived essential oils (EO) are one of the promising strategies for nematode management showing high nematicidal potential. Very little is known about the molecular mechanisms activated by EOs in M. incognita. In our study, we assessed the effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Citrus aurantium and the chemical nematicide Oxamyl on the mortality of M. incognita juveniles (J2) at different doses and exposure. The toxicity of C. zeylanicum and C. aurantium EOs to M. incognita J2 was largely different, peaking 94.7 and 26.7% mortality rates after a 24-hour exposure to 100 µg mL− 1 EO concentrations, respectively. The different nematicidal activity of the two EOs was also confirmed by their LC50 values, ranging between 0.1 and 399 mg mL− 1 concentrations for the 24-hour treatment, respectively. The sublethal dose (0.78 µg mL− 1), the concentration that does not cause mortality but still triggers physiological responses, was chosen for both EOs and Oxamyl to investigate the expression levels of Mi-ace-1, Mi-ace-2, and Mi-hsp90, involved in host finding processes, and Mi-far-1, involved in the cuticle protection, by using real time PCR. Our results reveal that C. zeylanicum is toxic at lower doses than C. aurantium. The different expression level of Mi-far-1 in J2s treated with C. zeylanicum suggests a different action mode compared to C. aurantium and Oxamyl. Understanding the action mode of these compounds at molecular level will help to develop more potent and effective nematicides safer for environment and humans.
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spelling doaj-art-ea134fa48425426780ef93fe93c59a362025-08-20T02:14:59ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-011511810.1038/s41598-025-90529-8Molecular mechanism of Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Citrus aurantium essential oils against the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognitaElena Fanelli0Alessio Vovlas1Trifone D’Addabbo2Francesca De Luca3Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection-CNRInstitute for Sustainable Plant Protection-CNRInstitute for Sustainable Plant Protection-CNRInstitute for Sustainable Plant Protection-CNRAbstract The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita is the most harmful and destructive nematode species due to its widespread distribution and its ability to destroy a wide range of agriculturally and economically important crops. Plant-derived essential oils (EO) are one of the promising strategies for nematode management showing high nematicidal potential. Very little is known about the molecular mechanisms activated by EOs in M. incognita. In our study, we assessed the effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Citrus aurantium and the chemical nematicide Oxamyl on the mortality of M. incognita juveniles (J2) at different doses and exposure. The toxicity of C. zeylanicum and C. aurantium EOs to M. incognita J2 was largely different, peaking 94.7 and 26.7% mortality rates after a 24-hour exposure to 100 µg mL− 1 EO concentrations, respectively. The different nematicidal activity of the two EOs was also confirmed by their LC50 values, ranging between 0.1 and 399 mg mL− 1 concentrations for the 24-hour treatment, respectively. The sublethal dose (0.78 µg mL− 1), the concentration that does not cause mortality but still triggers physiological responses, was chosen for both EOs and Oxamyl to investigate the expression levels of Mi-ace-1, Mi-ace-2, and Mi-hsp90, involved in host finding processes, and Mi-far-1, involved in the cuticle protection, by using real time PCR. Our results reveal that C. zeylanicum is toxic at lower doses than C. aurantium. The different expression level of Mi-far-1 in J2s treated with C. zeylanicum suggests a different action mode compared to C. aurantium and Oxamyl. Understanding the action mode of these compounds at molecular level will help to develop more potent and effective nematicides safer for environment and humans.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90529-8Essential oilsGene expressionMi-ace-1Mi-ace-2Mi-far-1Mi-hsp90
spellingShingle Elena Fanelli
Alessio Vovlas
Trifone D’Addabbo
Francesca De Luca
Molecular mechanism of Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Citrus aurantium essential oils against the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita
Scientific Reports
Essential oils
Gene expression
Mi-ace-1
Mi-ace-2
Mi-far-1
Mi-hsp90
title Molecular mechanism of Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Citrus aurantium essential oils against the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita
title_full Molecular mechanism of Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Citrus aurantium essential oils against the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita
title_fullStr Molecular mechanism of Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Citrus aurantium essential oils against the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita
title_full_unstemmed Molecular mechanism of Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Citrus aurantium essential oils against the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita
title_short Molecular mechanism of Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Citrus aurantium essential oils against the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita
title_sort molecular mechanism of cinnamomum zeylanicum and citrus aurantium essential oils against the root knot nematode meloidogyne incognita
topic Essential oils
Gene expression
Mi-ace-1
Mi-ace-2
Mi-far-1
Mi-hsp90
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90529-8
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