Researchers found biopesticide to be effective in controlling potato cyst nematode

According to information published by the Extension Toxicology Network, “Abamectin is a mixture of avermectins containing about 80% avermectin B1a and 20% avermectin B1b. These two components, B1a and B1b, have very similar biological and toxicological properties. The avermectins are insecticidal/miticidal compounds derived from the soil bacterium Streptomyces avermitilis. Abamectin is a natural fermentation product of this bacterium. It acts as an insecticide by affecting the nervous system of and paralyzing insects.”

A team of researchers from Italy and Moldova took part in a research project to test the efficacy of Abamectin in the control of potato cyst nematode Globodera pallida. The research results were published in the scientific journal Plants.

The research team says in their paper that the potato cyst nematode Globodera pallida is a major pest of the potato crop. They write that “Abamectin is a biological pesticide showing high nematicide activity, but its efficacy to control G. pallida has not been investigated to date.”

In their study, a combination of different abamectin concentrations ranging from 1.125 to 36 µg/mL x and exposure times from 24 to 384 h were tested on the nematode in a hatching test. Abamectin induced mortality with LD50 value in the range of 13.23 (after 24 h) to 2.90 µg/mL (after 384 h). A glasshouse experiment was also performed in pots filled with soil infected with G. pallida in the presence of sprouted potato tubers cultivar “Spunta”. Abamectin at 4.5, 9.0, 18.0 and 36.0 µg/mL was used in comparison with nematicide fosthiazate.

The researchers found that the doses of 18 and 36 µg/mL significantly reduced number of eggs, juveniles, cyst/g soil and reproduction rate in comparison to both untreated control and fosthiazate treatment.

Soil applications of abamectin provided significant G. pallida control with LD50 and LD99.9 of 14.4 and 131.3 µg/mL, respectively.

The research team concluded: “These results indicate the efficacy of abamectin to control G. pallida on potato crops and its potential use in organic agriculture or in an integrated pest management program.”

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