Progressive metabolic impairment underlies the novel nematicidal action of fluensulfone on the potato cyst nematode Globodera pallida.
BACKGROUND
Fluensulfone is a new nematicide with an excellent profile of selective toxicity against plant parasitic nematodes. Here, its effects on the physiology and biochemistry of the potato cyst nematode Globodera pallida have been investigated and comparisons made with its effect on the life-span of the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to provide insight into its mode of action and its selective toxicity.


RESULTS
Fluensulfone exerts acute effects (≤1h; ≥100μM) on stylet thrusting and motility of hatched second stage G. pallida juveniles (J2s). Chronic exposure to lower concentrations of fluensulfone (≥3days; ≤30μM), reveals a slowly developing metabolic insult in which G. pallida J2s sequentially exhibit a reduction in motility, loss of a metabolic marker for cell viability, high lipid content and tissue degeneration prior to death. These effects are absent in adults and dauers of the model genetic nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.


CONCLUSION
The nematicidal action of fluensulfone follows a time-course which progresses from an early impact on motility through to an accumulating metabolic impairment, an inability to access lipid stores and death.
['Kearn|James|J|', 'Lilley|Catherine|C|', 'Urwin|Peter|P|', "O'Connor|Vincent|V|", 'Holden-Dye|Lindy|L|']
D000818:Animals D000969:Antinematodal Agents D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans D050356:Lipid Metabolism D010935:Plant Diseases D018517:Plant Roots D011198:Solanum tuberosum D013450:Sulfones D013844:Thiazoles D014431:Tylenchoidea
Metabolism Plant parasitic nematode Stylet Motility Hatching Lipid