The preservation of biodiversity is essential to ensure the resilience of agroecosystems, which are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic pressures and climate change. Nematodes, among the most abundant and functionally diverse soil invertebrates, are ideal indicators for assessing soil ecological quality. In line with the Farm to Fork strategy, essential oils (EOs) are emerging as promising alternatives to synthetic pesticides, as their high volatility and biodegradability suggest a low environmental risk. However, their actual effects on non-target soil fauna remain largely unknown. To address this gap, a field study was conducted to evaluate the effects of EOs on the taxonomic and functional structure of nematode communities. Specifically, the experiment was carried out on chickpea crops and aimed to assess the potential disturbance caused by basil EO on free-living nematodes. The seed coating was obtained using chitosan (CHI), a natural, non-toxic, and edible polymer derived from the deacetylation of chitin. CHI is used in combination with EOs to reduce their volatility and to form a protective coating on seeds. A Before-After-Control-Impact design was adopted to distinguish biodiversity changes due to temporal dynamics from those caused by treatments. Overall, 44 genera were identified, and Tylenchidae, Dorylaimidae, Cephalobidae, and Hoplolaimidae were the most abundant families. The results revealed that basil EO + CHI seed coatings had no significant negative impact on nematode taxonomic diversity or functional indices. The taxonomic community structure, considered one of the most sensitive detection metrics, showed that the observed effects were mainly driven by temporal variations, likely reflecting the natural progression of the crop system rather than the EO treatment itself. These findings are particularly promising, as they suggest that basil EO-based coatings can preserve soil biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and natural capital.
Taxonomical and functional biodiversity of nematodes to assess the eco-friendly potential of alternative approaches in crop protection
Priscilla Farina;Camilla Tani;Barbara Conti;Roberta Ascrizzi;Guido Flamini;
2025-01-01
Abstract
The preservation of biodiversity is essential to ensure the resilience of agroecosystems, which are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic pressures and climate change. Nematodes, among the most abundant and functionally diverse soil invertebrates, are ideal indicators for assessing soil ecological quality. In line with the Farm to Fork strategy, essential oils (EOs) are emerging as promising alternatives to synthetic pesticides, as their high volatility and biodegradability suggest a low environmental risk. However, their actual effects on non-target soil fauna remain largely unknown. To address this gap, a field study was conducted to evaluate the effects of EOs on the taxonomic and functional structure of nematode communities. Specifically, the experiment was carried out on chickpea crops and aimed to assess the potential disturbance caused by basil EO on free-living nematodes. The seed coating was obtained using chitosan (CHI), a natural, non-toxic, and edible polymer derived from the deacetylation of chitin. CHI is used in combination with EOs to reduce their volatility and to form a protective coating on seeds. A Before-After-Control-Impact design was adopted to distinguish biodiversity changes due to temporal dynamics from those caused by treatments. Overall, 44 genera were identified, and Tylenchidae, Dorylaimidae, Cephalobidae, and Hoplolaimidae were the most abundant families. The results revealed that basil EO + CHI seed coatings had no significant negative impact on nematode taxonomic diversity or functional indices. The taxonomic community structure, considered one of the most sensitive detection metrics, showed that the observed effects were mainly driven by temporal variations, likely reflecting the natural progression of the crop system rather than the EO treatment itself. These findings are particularly promising, as they suggest that basil EO-based coatings can preserve soil biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and natural capital.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
