NEMATOCIDAL PROPERTIES OF CARBOXYLIC-ACIDS AND DERIVATIVES

During research on nematocidal toxins produced by microorganisms, a metabolite has been found active and identified as a volatile fatty acid (monocarboxylic), namely acetic acid. That volatile fatty acid showed selective nematotoxic activity against some plant-parasitic nematodes, but linked to pH and with recovery effect. To improve its efficacy, a structure/activity study on some derivatives has been performed with biological tests on different nematode species. Adding a second carboxylic function and a double bond in the volatile fatty acid hydrocarbonic chain provided unsaturated dicarboxylic acids; these compounds exhibited a significant selective nematocidal activity in considerably shorter periods of time than the monocarboxylic acids, at lower concentrations, in a broad range of pH and without reversible effect of juvenile paralysis. The methyl esters of those dicarboxylic acids and cyclic derivatives exhibited toxicological activity without pH dependency. The importance of the spatial configuration of those molecules which triggered the appearance of significant nematocidal properties is discussed. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.