The action of natural products on plant pathogens has been investigated with the aim of evaluating their effectiveness in the alternative control of diseases, especially in organic agriculture. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of essential oils of rosemary pepper (Lippia sidoides) and citronella grass (Cymbopogon winterianus) on the control of M. Incognita race 2, in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and celosia (Celosia plicata). Thus, an assay was conducted in 6 x 2 factorial arrangement, with five replicates. It was carried out in a greenhouse of the Plant Health Sector of the Department of Phytotechny/CCA/UFC, in the period from April to June 2007. The seedlings used in this test were transplanted into plastic pots containing 2 kg of sterile soil, in which, at 24 hours after transplanting, 4,000 eggs/J2 of M. incognita, race 2, were inoculated, except for negative controls. For 50% of the number of pots, 100 ml of the solutions of each essential oil were soon applied to each pot at the concentration of 2.5 ml L-1. After 48 hours, the same amount was applied to the remaining pots. This volume corresponds to 60% of the field capacity of this substrate, which was previously calculated. The final evaluation was at 45 days after inoculation. The following variables were analyzed in relation to the nematode: number of galls (NG), number of eggs (NE), egg mass index (EMI), reproduction factor (RF), reproduction factor reduction (RFR). Regarding the development of plants, the measured parameters were: plant height, shoot fresh and dry weight, and fresh weight of the root system. The nematode reproduction revealed to be less efficient in tomato. The employed essential oils reduced the reproductive rate of the nematode by 83 and 29% in tomato and celosia, respectively. The times of application of essential oils differed as to the nematode reproduction for the number of galls and the reproduction factor.
control; organic agriculture; Meloidogyne incognita race 2