<i>Croton bonplandianus</i> leaves extract to mitigate the hazardous effect of <i>Meloidogyne incognita</i>: GC-MS and molecular docking analysis of nematicidal compounds

Active metabolites from plants are considered safer than synthetic chemicals for the control of plant-parasitic nematodes. <i>Meloidogyne incognita</i>, one of the most detrimental plant-parasitic nematodes, causes considerable agricultural losses and reductions in yield globally. Commonly used chemical nematicides have been withdrawn due to growing environmental and human health concerns. The need for alternate nematode management techniques is fueled by the enormous demand for environmentally acceptable bio-nematicides that have advantageous qualities for plants. Using <i>in vitro</i> tests, the current study aimed to ascertain the nematicidal potential of different concentrations of <i>Croton bonplandianus</i> leaf extract-200, 400, 600, and 800 ppm against <i>M. incognita</i>. According to our findings, J2s mortality and egg hatching inhibition varied in degree across all investigated dosages. We detected 24 chemicals using GC-MS, with 4-vinylphenol, <i>n</i>-hexadecanoic acid, delta-tocopherol, gamma sitosterol and others being the main ones. The nematicidal possibilities of <i>C. bonplandianus</i> were further substantiated using <i>in silico</i> molecular docking, which examined the binding affinities of its principal constituents, 4-vinylphenol and gamma-sitosterol, with the odorant response gene 1 (ODR 1) protein of <i>M. incognita</i>. The present investigation emphasizes the significance of strategic biomolecule selection and examines the biochemical interactions between ligands and target proteins, providing helpful insights for subsequent studies. Therefore, to manage root-knot nematodes and lower environmental concerns, plant extract containing nano bio-molecules might be the ideal substitute for chemical nematicides.