Nematicidal activity of spent Pleurotus ostreatus substrate against Nacobbus aberrans and free-living nematodes

Abstract

The phytonematode Nacobbus aberrans is a parasite of economic importance that affects various crops. Although chemical nematicides have been widely used for its control, their adverse effects on health, the environment, and non-target organisms have driven the search for more sustainable alternatives. In this context, the edible mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus constitutes a potential source of bioactive compounds with nematicidal activity. In the present study, the nematicidal effect of the crude hexanic extract of the spent substrate of P. ostreatus was evaluated on N. aberrans as a plant-parasitic nematode, and Caenorhabditis elegans and Panagrellus redivivus as free-living nematode models. In vitro assays were performed by incubating J2 larvae with four serial concentrations of the extract (1.25-10 mg/mL) for specific times (N. aberrans: 72 h; C. elegans: 24 h; P. redivivus: 17 and 24 h). The concentration of 10 mg/mL produced mortalities of 72.2% ± 3.6 in C. elegans, 57.0% ± 1.5 in P. redivivus, and 28.5% ± 2.9 in N. aberrans. These results indicate that the hexanic extract of spent substrate of P. ostreatus exerts an adverse effect on free-living nematodes, whereas its nematicidal activity is concentration-dependent.

https://doi.org/10.21929/abanicomicrobiano/2026.2

2026-02

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