Herbicidal potential of essential oils of Mentha piperita, Chrysopogon zizanioides, Mentha arvensis, and Pelargonium graveolens to control wild oat
Herbicidal potential of essential oils of Mentha piperita, Chrysopogon zizanioides, Mentha arvensis, and Pelargonium graveolens to control wild oat
- Author(s) P. Maurya, A. Mazeed, I.Z. Ahmad and P. Suryavanshi
- Year: 2024
- Month: May
- Volume: 62
- Pages: 71-84
Aromatic and medicinal plants release volatile allelochemicals which influence the organisms in their environment. A pot culture experiment was conducted to determine the phytotoxic activity of essential oil emulsions (EOEs) of Mentha piperita L., Chrysopogon zizanioides L., Mentha arvensis L. and Pelargonium graveolens L. with two herbicides (clodinafof-propargyl 15 % WP and sulfosulfuran 75 % WG) on growth and physiological parameters of Avena fatua L. (wild oat) and on soil enzyme activities. Post-emergence application of EOEs and chemical herbicide were applied on 5-week old A. fatua plants. We found that several EOEs with varying concentrations and chemical herbicides reduced (p = 0.05) the A. fatua plant growth (shoot length, root length, fresh and dry weight of plant), physiological parameters and also affected the post-harvest soil enzyme activities and soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC). Chlorophyll content was considerably decreased, but increased proline accumulation and electrolyte leakage in A. fatua plants indicating membrane rupture and loss of integrity. Since essential oils interfere with plant growth and physiological processes and have exceptional inhibitory effects on the A. fatua plant, the allelochemicals present in these donor plants may be used as active ingredients to develop natural herbicides.
