Exploring nematicidal biomolecules from Xenorhabdus nematophila as a novel source for Meloidogyne incognita management.

Attempts were made to evaluate the purified bioactive compounds of Xenorhabdus nematophila against Meloidogyne incognita. In order to extract the purified compounds, a solid-supported liquid-liquid extraction system with a flow rate (1 mL/min) was used to purify bioactive molecules. Compounds were individually collected concentrated and evaluated against M. incognita. Among 25 fractions the L19 fraction, exhibited 98% inhibition in egg hatching and mortality of juveniles. The biomolecules were identified through Liquid Chromatography- Mass Spectroscopy (LC-MS) technique. To decipher the mode of action of compounds, molecular docking studies were performed with potential protein targets such as acetylcholinesterase, β-1,4-endoglucanase, glutathione S-transferase-1, cytochrome c oxidase, G-protein coupled receptor and Fatty acid and retinol-binding proteins of M. incognita. The results revealed that among eight compounds from the L19 fraction, malonate and pidopidon exhibited greater binding affinity towards the selected protein targets of M. incognita. In vitro studies with malonate and pidopidon against M. incognita showcased a 99% reduction in egg hatching and juvenile mortality. Moreover, greenhouse experiments revealed that malonate compounds not only reduced 94% of the M. incognita population but also enhanced the plant growth parameters in tomato by 60%. Hence the present study stands novel in exploiting the nematicidal compounds from X. nematophila giving limelight to explore pidopidon and malonate as novel nematicidal compounds for the management of M. incognita.