Milkweed seedmeal: a control for Meloidogyne chitwoodi on potatoes

Milkweed (Asclepias) is a new crop being produced for its fiber in pillows and comforters. Cardiac glycosides (cardenolides), are endemic in milkweed and may hinder utilization of its seed as an animal feed. In an ongoing effort to develop new coproducts for milkweed fiber, we found that the defatted seedmeal is an effective nematicide and pesticide for army worms. A procedure for separating the cardenolides from milkweed seedmeal has also been developed.