Chemotactic responses of slug-parasitic nematodes to barley root-emitted volatile organic compounds

Laznik, Žiga (author), Trdan, Stanislav (author)

Parasitic nematodes play a vital role in soil ecosystems, contributing to natural pest suppression. Among them, slug-parasitic species such as Phasmarhabditis papillosa (Schneider) Andrassy, Oscheius myriophilus (Poinar), and Oscheius onirici Torrini et al. are promising biological control agents against mollusk pests. These nematodes rely on plantemitted volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for host location, yet their chemotactic responses to specific VOCs remain unclear. This study assessed the responses of P. papillosa, O. myriophilus, and O. onirici to VOCs emitted by potato (S. tuberosum) tubers under varying temperature (18 °C, 22 °C) and concentration conditions (pure compound, 0.03 ppm). The results indicate that octanal was the strongest attractant, particularly for O. myriophilus, while nonanal exhibited species-dependent effects. Hydrocarbons such as undecane and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene had minimal or repellent effects, whereas 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one showed moderate attraction. Chemotactic responses were stronger at 18 °C, and attraction increased with higher VOC concentrations, suggesting a threshold-dependent response. These findings enhance our understanding of plantnematode interactions and suggest that octanal and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one could improve nematode-based slug control strategies. However, environmental factors such as soil composition and microbial activity may influence VOC diffusion and nematode recruitment. Future research should focus on optimizing VOC formulations, assessing field applicability, and integrating these findings into sustainable pest management programs.

• Language: English
• Keywords: slug-parasitic nematodes, Phasmarhabditis papillosa, Oscheius myriophilus, Oscheius onirici, volatile organic compounds, VOCs, chemotaxis, barley roots, biocontrol, temperature effects, plant–nematode interactions, belowground ecology
• 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: 13 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 15, iss. 9, art. 2162
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-172673
• UDC: 632
• ISSN on article: 2073-4395
• DOI: 10.3390/agronomy15092162
• COBISS.SI-ID: 248442883
• Publication date in RUL: 10.09.2025

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: biotično varstvo rastlin, koristni organizmi, parazitske ogorčice, nematode, hlapne organske spojine, kemotaksija, biološki nadzor, polži