Nematicidal Potential of Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum L.) Extracts against Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White).

Nematicidal efficacy of tulsi extracts were evaluated against root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) in the laboratory. Treatments comprised of aqueous and hot water extracts of tulsi at different concentration (10, 20 and 30 %) and control. The treatments were imposed on second stage juveniles of M. incognita and the mortality was recorded after 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours of incubation. Aqueous and hot water extracts of tulsi at different concentrations were found lethal to second stage juveniles of root-knot nematode. Aqueous extract of tulsi at 30 per cent caused the highest mortality of J2s at all the periods of exposure and it was significantly higher than all other treatments. The per cent mortality increased with increase in the concentration of extracts and exposure time. As compared to hot water extracts, aqueous extract of tulsi gave better results. The present study prooved nematicidal activity of tulsi extracts and suggests that tulsi extracts at higher concentration can be used for the management of root knot-nematode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]