[Interaction between structure of plant steroids and their effect on phytonematodes].

The effects of certain plant steroids of the groups of furostanol glycosides, glycoalkaloids, and alpha-ecdysone on growth and development of phytoparasitic nematodes were studied. It was shown using an experimental system including tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., and root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita Kofoid et White, that steroid molecule had significant nematicidic activity if it contained a carbohydrate moiety and an additional heterocycle in the steroid core. The maximum nematicidic activity is inherent in glycosides containing chacotriose as the carbohydrate moiety of the molecule. Some compounds tested in this work could be used for protecting plants against phytoparasitic nematodes.