Preliminary study on the action mechanism of ally isothiocyanate against Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

A preliminary study on the mechanism of action of propylene isothiocyanate against Bursaphelenchus xylophilus was carried out. Its effects on the morphological changes and movement, the metabolism of total sugar and protein and activities of protective enzymes, catalase (CAT), acetylcholinesterase(AChE) and glutathione thiotransferase(GST) enzyme from B. xylophilus were evaluated. Ally isothiocyanate interfered with body morphology of B. xylophilus, which was seriously distorted by AITC, and its movement morphology changed from normal S shape to multi-section bending and spiral curl. Its locomotion capacity became slow with time, and finally showed C shape, crescent shape or dead form. With the increase of the concentration of isopropyl isothiocyanate, the total sugar and protein contents of nematodes increased significantly, and the metabolism of sugar and protein was disordered. The activities of CAT, AChE and GST in nematodes were significantly lower than those in the control groups. It indicated that the oxidative and antioxidative effects of nematodes were imbalanced. The cells were significantly affected, and the nervous system was destroyed. The detoxification ability was also dramatically reduced. Those results can be used to evaluate the use of propylene isothiocyanate as a plant-derived nematicide.