(Z)-7-Tetradecen-2-one

(Z)-7-Tetradecen-2-one is a species-specific nematicide that can induce terminal embryonic development, morphological abnormalities, and irreversible developmental arrest in Pristionchus pacificus, while also increasing eggshell permeability. Additionally, (Z)-7-Tetradecen-2-one exhibits olfactory attraction effects on Pristionchus pacificus and can be utilized for studying host-nematode symbiotic relationships.

(Z)-7-Tetradecen-2-one, with a volatility of 0.5% and applied at 10 μL for 2-4 hours, induces irreversible terminal embryogenesis in 100% of Pristionchus pacificus PS312 early embryos. For embryos aged 0-4 hours, the minimum lethal exposure duration outside the uterus is 4 hours, while for those aged 4-8 hours, it is 3 hours, leading to abnormal embryonic morphology, partial tissue differentiation, and complete developmental arrest. Additionally, a 4-hour exposure to (Z)-7-Tetradecen-2-one (0.5% volatility) enhances eggshell permeability in Pristionchus pacificus PS312, PS1843, RS5186 embryos, with 65%-90% of embryos in sensitive strains showing FM4-64 staining of embryonic tissues after exposure, associating with irreversible developmental arrest. In Pristionchus pacificus strains from the Pacific region, this compound causes 100% irreversible developmental arrest, but in RS5278 and RS5419 strains, it results in 40%-60% arrest, while leaving Caenorhabditis elegans N2 embryos unaffected. Furthermore, (Z)-7-Tetradecen-2-one at a dilution of 0.1-10% for 9-15 hours exhibits strong attraction towards Pristionchus pacificus, yet acts as a repellent or has no effect on other tested nematode species.