Root-emitted volatile organic compounds from Daucus carota modulate chemotaxis in Phasmarhabditis and Oscheius nematodes

Sen, Emre (author), Lakatos, Tamás (author), Tóth, Tímea (author), Trdan, Stanislav (author), Laznik, Žiga (author)

Root-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 system

• Language: English
• Keywords: volatile organic compounds (VOCs), Oscheius myriophilus, Phasmarhabditis papillosa, Oscheius onirici, chemotaxis, biocontrol, slug-parasitic nematodes, root volatiles, sustainable agriculture
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 17 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 15, iss. 8, art. 1793
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-171123
• UDC: 632
• ISSN on article: 2073-4395
• DOI: 10.3390/agronomy15081793
• COBISS.SI-ID: 244114435
• Publication date in RUL: 06.08.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Agronomy
• Publisher: AG
• ISSN: 2073-4395
• COBISS.SI-ID: 522953241

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: hlapne organske spojine, parazitska ogorčica, Phasmarhabditis papillosa, Oscheius onirici, kemotaksija, varstvo rastlin, parazitska ogorčica polžev, obrambni mehanizem rastlin, hlapne spojine, ekološko kmetijstvo, trajnostni razvoj