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Herbicidal activity of eugenol towards some grassy and broad-leaved weeds

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Abstract

The present study investigated the phytotoxic potential of eugenol, a major component from the essential oil of clove [Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merrill and Perry], towards four grassy [Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv., Phalaris minor Retz., Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. and Leptochloa chinensis (L.) Nees] and four broad-leaved [Ageratum conyziodes L., Commelina benghalensis L., Cassia occidentalis L. and Bidens pilosa L.] weeds. The effect of eugenol (50–1,000 μM) on the growth and development of seedlings after 7 days of treatment was studied in terms of percent germination, root and shoot length, total chlorophyll content and cellular respiration. Eugenol at 1,000 μM caused 55–70 and 42–90 % decrease in percent germination in grassy and broad-leaved weeds, respectively. Likewise, root length declined by 55–90 and 57–71 %, whereas shoot length was decreased by 50–83 and 36–73 % in grassy and broad-leaved weeds, respectively, in response to 1,000 μM eugenol. The observed reduction in the plant growth was accompanied by a decline in the total chlorophyll content (37–53 %) and cellular respiration (36–57 %) in the test plants. However, the inhibitory effect was stronger towards grassy weeds than towards the broad-leaved ones. Thus, future research can be focused on developing eugenol, a natural plant product, as an environmentally safe herbicide in replacement to the harmful chemical herbicides.

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Acknowledgments

N. Ahuja is thankful to the University Grants Commission, India, for the financial support in the form of fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India

    Nitina Ahuja, Daizy R. Batish & Ravinder K. Kohli

  2. Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India

    Harminder Pal Singh

Authors
  1. Nitina Ahuja
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  2. Daizy R. Batish
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  3. Harminder Pal Singh
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  4. Ravinder K. Kohli
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Correspondence to Daizy R. Batish.

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Communicated by M.B. Isman.

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Ahuja, N., Batish, D.R., Singh, H.P. et al. Herbicidal activity of eugenol towards some grassy and broad-leaved weeds. J Pest Sci 88, 209–218 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-014-0570-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-014-0570-x

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