Root-emitted volatile organic compounds from Daucus carota modulate chemotaxis in Phasmarhabditis and Oscheius nematodesSen, Emre (Avtor) Lakatos, Tamás (Avtor) Tóth, Tímea (Avtor) Trdan, Stanislav (Avtor) Laznik, Žiga (Avtor) volatile organic compounds (VOCs)Oscheius myriophilusPhasmarhabditis papillosaOscheius oniricichemotaxisbiocontrolslug-parasitic nematodesroot volatilessustainable agricultureRoot-emitted volatile organic compounds (VOCs) play a critical role in below-ground ecological interactions by mediating communication between plants, pests, and their natural enemies. This study investigates the chemotactic behavior of three slug-parasitic nematode species—Phasmarhabditis papillosa, Oscheius myriophilus, and Oscheius onirici—in response to four carrot (Daucus carota) root-derived VOCs: α-pinene, terpinolene, bornyl acetate, and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol. Using a modified Petri dish assay, infective juveniles (IJs) were exposed to each compound across four concentrations (pure, 1000 ppm, 10 ppm, and 0.03 ppm), and their directional movement was quantified using a chemotaxis index (CI). The results revealed strong species-specific and concentration-dependent patterns. O. myriophilus exhibited the highest motility and repellency, particularly toward bornyl acetate and terpinolene, indicating its potential for use in VOC-guided biocontrol strategies. O. onirici showed moderate but consistent attraction to most VOCs, while P. papillosa exhibited generally weak or repellent responses, especially at higher concentrations. None of the compounds tested functioned as strong attractants (CI ≥ 0.2), suggesting that plant-derived VOCs alone may not be sufficient to direct nematode recruitment under field conditions. However, their integration with other biotic cues could enhance nematode-based “lure-and-infect” systems for sustainable slug control in carrot cropping system20252025-08-06 15:03:49Članek v reviji171123UDK: 632ISSN pri članku: 2073-4395DOI: 10.3390/agronomy15081793COBISS_ID: 244114435sl