ABSTRACT
Root-knot nematodes are a major constraint in limiting agricultural productivity; crop protection is key to advanced farming and sustainable plant growth. With an increasing demand for chemical-free organic foods, oilseed cakes as organic nematicides are taking the lead as replacements for synthetic chemicals. This study focused on different oilseed cakes, their bioactive compounds, and their anti-nematode potential. The important role of the following cakes, such as neem, castor, mahua, cotton, sesame, peanut, flax and mustard, is described in this chapter. Researchers are examining various nematicidal volatile organic compounds from various oilseed cakes and testing their nematicidal activity. Mechanistically, the oilseed cakes act differently, either by stimulating natural enemies’ activity in the soil or by releasing nemato-toxic compounds. Oilseed cakes contain phenols, azadirachtin, thionimone, nimbidin, volatile fatty acids, formaldehyde, organic acids, ammonia, hydrogen sulphide and terpenes, which have shown antagonism for root-knot nematodes. This chapter reveals a promising area of a non-conventional, eco-friendly and sustainable approach to managing nematodes.
