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Homeopathy 2021; 110(02): 115-121
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1716402
Original Research Article

Effect of Homeopathic Preparations on Lettuce, Parasitized or Not by Meloidogyne enterolobii

Thais Moraes Ferreira
1   Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
,
Mariana Zandomênico Mangeiro
1   Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
,
Alexandre Macedo Almeida
1   Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
,
Ricardo Moreira Souza 
1   Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
› Author Affiliations Funding Partial funding support was obtained though the crowdfunding platform Catarse (https://www.catarse.me/). Catarse had no interference in any aspect of this work or its publication.
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Abstract

Background There are relatively few scientific works on the use of homeopathy to manage plant pathogens, particularly nematodes. A handful of studies focused on Meloidogyne spp. parasitizing vegetables have brought contradictory results on nematode control and enhancement of plant tolerance to parasitism.

Objective Our goal was to assess the effect of Cina—a well-known anti-nematode ingredient—on Meloidogyne enterolobii parasitizing lettuce.

Methods Cina was applied daily on nematode-inoculated plants, from the seedling stage until harvest. We tested an evenly spaced range of Hahnemannian concentrations (c), which were applied though irrigation with a constant dose of the ingredient. Several absolute and relative controls were employed to allow the assessment of the effect of Cina on nematode reproduction and lettuce growth.

Results Cina affected growth of non-parasitized plants, both positively and negatively; this effect was modulated by the c applied and the thermal stress suffered by the plants in one of the assays. The effect of Cina on the growth of nematode-parasitized plants was neutral or negative. Cina reduced nematode reproduction by 25–36%.

Conclusion Based on the moderate negative effect of Cina on M. enterolobii reproduction, it seems this ingredient may be useful as a complementary strategy for Meloidogyne control. But Cina did not enhance the tolerance of lettuce to Meloidogyne spp.

Keywords

Cina - agrohomeopathy - plant-parasitic nematodes - root-knot nematode

Highlights

• Cina affected growth of non-parasitized plants, both positively and negatively.


• The effect of Cina on plant growth was modulated by the c applied and the thermal stress suffered by the plants.


• The effect of Cina on nematode-parasitized plants was neutral to negative.


• Cina reduced nematode reproduction by 25 to 36%.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 16 April 2020

Accepted: 17 June 2020

Article published online:
24 December 2020

© 2020. Faculty of Homeopathy. This article is published by Thieme.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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