Annals of Applied Biology (2005) 146, 89-94

H.P. Singh, D.R. Batish, N. Setia and R.K. Kohli (2005)
Herbicidal activity of volatile oils from Eucalyptus citriodora against Parthenium hysterophorus
Annals of Applied Biology 146 (1), 89-94
Abstract: The herbicidal effect of volatile oils from leaves of Eucalyptus citriodora against the noxious weed Parthenium hysterophorus was tested. In a laboratory bioassay, seed germination and seedling length, chlorophyll content and respiratory activity of Parthenium decreased with increased concentration of eucalypt oils from 0.2 to 5.0 nL mL^-1. Germination was completely inhibited at 5.0 nL mL^-1 eucalyptus oils. Further, for 4-week-old plants of Parthenium sprayed with different concentrations of volatile oils, visible damage increased and chlorophyll content and respiratory activity decreased with increased concentration from 0 to 100 µL mL^-1, the week after spraying. At concentrations up to 50 µL mL^-1, plants showed some recovery over time but plants sprayed with 75 and 100 µL mL^-1 died 2 weeks after treatment. Plants sprayed with 50 µL mL^-1 and higher concentrations of eucalypt oils were desiccated and wilted in appearance. At concentrations of 5-75 µL mL^-1, eucalypt oils caused a rapid electrolyte leakage from the Parthenium plants thereby indicating an effect on membrane integrity. It is concluded that volatile oils from E. citriodora possess weed-suppressing ability and could be used as a potential bioherbicide for future weed management programmes.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
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Database assignments for author(s): Harminder P. Singh, Daizy R. Batish

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Parthenium hysterophorus (weed)