Materials and Methods for Attracting and Controlling Plant-Pathogenic Nematodes
The invention provides materials and method for attracting and controlling plant-pathogenic nematodes. In specific embodiments, compositions are provided comprising Valerian root, which draws the nematodes away from plants, and/or a microbe-based composition comprising nematicidal microorganisms and/or their growth by-products, which control the nematodes upon contact. The compositions can be applied to a plants environment, including soil, to attract and control nematodes, and to reduce and/or prevent plant damage caused by nematodes.
1 . A nematicidal composition comprising a chemo-attractant substance and a microbe-based composition, wherein the microbe-based composition comprises one or more beneficial microorganisms and/or growth by-products thereof, and wherein the one or more beneficial microorganisms and/or growth by-products thereof are capable of nematicidal action.
2 . The nematicidal composition of claim 1 , wherein the chemo-attractant substance comprises Valerian ( Valeriana officinalis ).
3 - 4 . (canceled)
5 . The nematicidal composition of claim 1 , wherein the one or more beneficial microorganisms comprise Pleurotus ostreatus and/or a glycolipid-producing yeast.
6 . The nematicidal composition of claim 1 , wherein the one or more growth by-products comprises linoleic acid.
7 . (canceled)
8 . The nematicidal composition of claim 5 , wherein the yeast is selected from Pseudozyma aphidis and Meyerozyma guilliermondii , and the glycolipid is a mannosylerythritol lipid (MEL).
9 . The nematicidal composition of claim 1 , wherein the one or more growth by-products is a mannosylerythritol lipid (MEL).
10 . (canceled)
11 . The nematicidal composition of claim 9 , wherein the MEL is in the fowl of a supernatant resulting from cultivation of P. aphidis or M. guilliermondii.
12 . The nematicidal composition of claim 1 , wherein the one or more beneficial microorganisms comprise Streptomyces avermitilis and/or wherein the one or more growth by-products comprise avermectin.
13 - 15 . (canceled)
16 . The nematicidal composition of claim 1 , comprising Valerian root extract, and one or more of the following:
live cells of P. ostreatus and/or growth by-products thereof,
live cells of S. avermitilis and/or growth by-products thereof, and
live cells of M. guilliermondii and/or growth by-products thereof.
17 . A method for controlling nematodes present on a plant and/or in a plant's surrounding environment, the method comprising applying a chemo-attractant substance and a microbe-based composition to a locus,
wherein the microbe-based composition comprises one or more beneficial microorganisms and/or growth by-products thereof,
wherein the one or more beneficial microorganisms and/or growth by-products thereof are capable of nematicidal action, and
wherein the locus is within the plant's surrounding environment but located at a distance of at least 1 inch away from the plant.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the chemo-attractant substance is Valerian root extract.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the microbe based composition comprises one or more of the following:
live cells of P. ostreatus and/or growth by-products thereof,
live cells of S. avermitilis and/or growth by-products thereof, and
live cells of M. guilliermondii and/or growth by-products thereof.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the growth by-products of P. ostreatus comprise linoleic acid in a purified form or in the form of a supernatant resulting from cultivation of P. ostreatus.
21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the growth by-products of S. avermitilis comprise avermectin in a purified form or in the form of a supernatant resulting from cultivation of S. avermitilis.
22 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the growth by-products of M. guilliermondii comprise MEL in a purified form or in the form of a supernatant resulting from cultivation of M. guilliermondii.
23 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the plant's surrounding environment comprises soil or another medium in which the plant is growing, within a radius of 100 feet away from the plant.
24 . (canceled)
25 . The method of claim 17 , used to control a nematode selected from root-knot nematode ( Meloidogyne incognital ), sting nematode ( Belonolaimus longicaudatus ), soybean cyst nematode ( Heterodera glycines ), lesion nematode ( Pratylenchus sp.), dagger nematode ( Xiphinema sp.), and citrus nematode ( Tylenchulus semipenetrans ).
26 - 29 . (canceled)
30 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the chemo-attractant substance and/or the microbe-based composition are placed into a ground spike or bait station, and the ground spike or bait station is placed into soil at the locus.
31 . (canceled)