Tests have demonstrated that 2-furfuraldehyde (furfural), a pentose sugar derivative, can act as a contact nematicide and can be effective in reducing populations of plant-parasitic nematodes.

A number of organic fertilisers based on complex sugar formulations contain varying amounts of furfural and recent field trials have shown that nematode populations can be suppressed, with turf quality improving significantly after fertiliser application. Formulations containing higher levels of furfural are currently being considered by regulatory authorities for approval as nematicides.