Suppressive effects of α - amylase inhibitors from wheat flour on Meloidogyne incognita infestation in tomato and okra

The application of flour at 5% rhizospheric soil drench to tomato cv. Pusa Ruby and okra cv. Purbani Kranti plants (24 h after inoculation of roots with Meloidogyne incognita juveniles), reduced the infestation. Wheat flour, α-amylase and α-amylase inhibitor did not kill the nematodes in in vitro test, but decreased the α-amylase activity in inoculated roots of tomato and okra. α-Amylase inhibitor applied on tomato and okra leaves (inoculated with M. incognita), ameliorated the root-knot disease. Both α-amylase and α-amylase inhibitors enhanced the enzyme activity in inoculated roots than non-inoculated of roots tomato and okra plants.