The pinewood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is a serious threat to
forest ecosystems at a global scale. The nematode has become a major quarantine
problem due to its capability to completely destroy Pinus spp. trees, with great damage to
the wood industry. Controlling the nematode inside a living tree is quite difficult, the
techniques used being often ineffective and quite expensive. In the coming years, most
chemicals used to control nematodes will be banned and replaced by safer and
environmentally friendly products. As so, chemicals naturally produced by plants will play
an important role in controlling diseases such as pine wilt. Plants, particularly aromatic
ones, are commonly used due to the chemical properties of their secondary metabolites.
Among these, essential oils and/or extracts are highly employed and are being tested as
possible control of some organisms, like nematodes. Recent publications have evaluated
essential oils derived from different plant species as natural nematicides [1; 2], antibacterial
[3], anti-fungal [4] as well as insecticidal [5]. Concerning control of the PWN, a
significant amount of information on plants tested, results obtained and employed
techniques, is available. Our revision has extensively gathered this information, making it
easier to search, read and use. It may become useful information for future studies on the
subject, since it will be possible to check the plants already tested. Although numbers
aren´t definitive, so far, tested plants are distributed amongst 148 families. The extracts or
essential oils of plants belonging to the Asteraceae, Lamiaceae and Euphorbiaceae
families show promising results on controlling the pinewood nematode
