Neem extracts as a strategy for the control of Meloidogyne javanica on tomato plants

Neem (Azadirachta indica) extracts are commonly used in agriculture for their pesticidal properties and potential benefits in pest management and crop protection. To evaluate the use of two neem-based extracts to control M. Meloidogyne javanica in tomato plants, experiments were conducted with eggs and second-stage juveniles (J2) of M. javanica to estimate the 50% effective concentration (EC50) at concentrations of 0.0% to 0.75% (v v-1) and 0.0% to 20.0% (v v-1) of neem extracts, respectively. Tomato plants were treated with concentrations from 0.0% to 3.00% of the neem extracts to assess the penetration of M. javanica J2. The extracts were applied in tomato plants infested with M. javanica eggs for comparison to carbofuran and abamectin. The estimated EC50 values for Extract 1 and Extract 2 were 0.44% and 0.40% for the hatching of J2 and 13.9% and 19.3% for the mortality of J2, respectively. The applications of the extracts on tomato plants infested with M. javanica J2 had no significant effects on the height and dry matter of tomato plants but resulted in a significant reduction on the reproduction factor of M. javanica. The treatment with a concentration of 1.00% of neem extracts reduced the reproduction factor of M. javanica, as did the treatment with abamectin. Neem extracts have a nematicidal effect on eggs and second-stage juveniles of M. javanica and can suppress the population of M. javanica in tomato plants. Neem extracts have potential for controlling M. javanica.