MILKWEED SEEDMEAL; A CONTROL FOR MELOIDOGYNE CHITWOODI ON POTATOES

Authors: Harry O Kuru, Rogers; MOJTAHEDI, HASSAN - WASHINGTON STATE UNIV; Vaughn, Steven; Dowd, Patrick; SANTO, GERRY - WASHINGTON STATE UNIV; Holser, Ronald; Abbott Dr, Thomas

Submitted to: National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/10/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Milkweed is a new industrial crop cultivated mainly for its floss which is in demand for us in pillows and comforters. The seed contain oils which could be used in the cosmetic industry. But the seedmeal, that is, the crushed seed after oil removal was usually discarded as waster because no use had been found for it. Compounding this problem, the meal contains components not suitable for animal feed. Consequently, for this crop to be fully successful economically, increased acreage and larger harvest must be accompanied by markets for the oil and seedmeal. This manuscript reports that milkweed seedmeal, incorporated into the soil, controls nematodes, that are pest in potato, tomato and pepper crops.

Technical Abstract: Milkweed (Asclepias) is a new crop being produced for its silky fiber in pillows and comforters. Cardiac glycosides (cardenolides) are endemic in milkweed and may hinder utilization of its seed as an animal feed. In an ongoing effort to develop new coproducts for milkweed fiber, we found that the defatted seedmeal, that is the waste product left after extraction of oil from the crushed seed, is an effective nematicide and a pesticide for fall armyworms. A convenient procedure for separating the toxins from milkweed seedmeal has also been developed.