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Research Article

Chemical composition and in vitro herbicidal activity of five essential oils on Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense [L.] Pers.)

By
Ana Matković ,
Ana Matković
Contact Ana Matković

Institute for Medicinal Plant Research “Dr. Josif Pančić” , Belgrade , Serbia

Tatjana Marković ,
Tatjana Marković

Institute for Medicinal Plant Research “Dr. Josif Pančić” , Belgrade , Serbia

Sava Vrbničanin ,
Sava Vrbničanin

Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia

Marija Sarić Krsmanović ,
Marija Sarić Krsmanović

Institute of Pesticides and Environmental Protection , Belgrade , Serbia

Dragana Božić
Dragana Božić

Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia

Abstract

The evaluation of the inhibition effect achieved by essential oils of dill (Anethum graveolens L.), oregano (Origanum vulgare L.), juniper (Juniperus communis L.), sage (Salvia officinalis L.) and winter savory (Satureja montana L.)  on seed germination and shoot growth of Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense L.) was tested in laboratory. The chemical composition of essential oils was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The major constituents were carvon (40.5%) and limonene (32.2%) for A. graveolens essential oil, carvacrol (73.7%) for O. vulgare essential oil, α-pinene (43.5%) for J. communis essential oil, b-thujone (32.7%) and camphor (17.2%) for S. officinalis essential oil, thymol (44.6%) and p-cimene (13.4%) for S. montana essential oil. The in vitro study on herbicidal activity was carried out on seed germination and shoots length of S. halepense; A. graveolens, O. vulgare, S. montana essential oils significantly inhibited the germination and shoot length and their herbicidal activity could be attributed mainly to their high content of carvone, carvacrol and thymol. A. graveolens, O. vulgare and S. montana essential oils reduced seed germination by 61.5%, 52.7% and 47.3%, respectively, while J. communis and S. officinalis essential oils stimulated germination (7.7% and 2.2%, respectively). The shoot growth reduction for almost all essential oils, except J. communis essential oil, was more than 30%. The solution of A. graveolens, O. vulgare and S. montana essential oils exhibited more powerful bio-herbicidal effect compared to J. communis and S. officinalis essential oils on the germination and shoot growth of S. halepense.


 

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