Bio-Herbicidal Effects of Oregano and Rosemary Essential Oils on Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) Crop in Organic Farming System

Abstract

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) is a well-known medicinal plant species in which the products requested from the market are those that are derived from the organic system. The study was conducted to assess the allelopathic effects, as natural herbicides, of two essential oils extracted from oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) and rosemary (Rosmarimum officinalis L.), with the objective of exploring the possibility of their utilization for future weed management. A field experiment was conducted over two seasons, when the infestation of 15 different weed species was detected. Each essential oil was applied at two different concentrations (50% diluted and undiluted), three times during the chamomile crop under an organic farm system. The results demonstrated that the germination of different weed species was affected differently by the type of essential oils and especially by their concentrations. The undiluted oils inhibited most of the germination of several weed species, highlighting a significantly higher percentage of Weed Control Efficiency (WCE) and suggesting the potential to be used as bio-herbicides. Bioherbicidal weed control methods could offer an advantage with respect to hand weeding, particularly from an economic point of view.

Optimization of Germination Inhibitors Elimination from Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Seeds of Different Maturity Classes

“…Phenols are the major class of secondary compounds in terrestrial vascular plants [22]. Phenolic compounds or their derivatives are known as seed germination inhibitors [23]. Some phenolic compounds are intermediates in lignin biosynthesis, which happens in the perianth lignification process [3].…”

Control of Erigeron bonariensis with Thymbra capitata, Mentha piperita, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, and Santolina chamaecyparissus Essential Oils

“…EOs, for example, Eucalyptus camaldulensis EO, inhibited the germination and growth of Amaranthus hybridus and Portulaca oleracea [14], and the EO from E. citriodora was effective to control the invasive noxious weed Parthenium hysterophorus [15]. EOs from Lamiaceae and Asteraceae have also shown high potential for their use as natural herbicides [12,16,17].…”

Acaricidal Efficacy of Jasmine and Lavender Essential Oil or Mustard Fixed Oil against Two-Spotted Spider Mite and Their Impact on Growth and Yield of Eggplants

“…Essential oils (EO) have obtained a lot of awareness as practical bioactive products, principally in pesticide terms [ 15 , 18 , 19 ]. The acaricidal action of EO is largely unknown, owing to the complexity of the bioactive substances [ 20 ].…”