The allelopathic plant extracts can be applied as soil or foliar bioherbicides and are capable of suppressing germination and growth of several weeds, some of which are herbicide resistant. This study evaluated the allelopathic activity of the aqueous extract of aerial biomass of mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris L.) on seed germination and seedling growth of redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) and maize (Zea mays L.), in order to be applied as a potential bioherbicide. The aqueous extract of mugwort was qualitatively examined for the presence of bioactive compounds and it was applied in a Petri dish and pot bioassays quantifying its eects on redroot pigweed and maize by non-linear regression analyses according the log-logistic model. The aqueous extract of mugwort showed the presence of several bioactive compounds with allelopathic activity, such as polysaccharides, organic acids, flavonoids and terpenoids. The aqueous extract of mugwort, at the concentrations from 7.5% to 10% w/v, were found to be the optimal concentration range since it is able to inhibit seed germination, seedling emergence and plant growth of redroot pigweed, without aecting seed germination and seedling emergence of maize, or rather, stimulating its radicle, mesocotyl and plant’s growth. EC90 values for the seed germination, radicle and hypocotyl length of redroot pigweed were in the order: 6.1% and 8.1%, 3.2% and 6.2%, 3.8% and 5.7% w/v of aqueous extract in the two repeated bioassays, respectively. Due to potential herbicidal activity against weeds and biostimulant action on the crops, this extract could be the ideal solution in an integrated weed management program, in order to suppress weeds, increasing competitive ability of crops.

Evaluation of Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris L.) Aqueous Extract as a Potential Bioherbicide to Control Amaranthus retroflexus L. in Maize

Pannacci, Euro
;
Farneselli, Michela;Tei, Francesco
2020

Abstract

The allelopathic plant extracts can be applied as soil or foliar bioherbicides and are capable of suppressing germination and growth of several weeds, some of which are herbicide resistant. This study evaluated the allelopathic activity of the aqueous extract of aerial biomass of mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris L.) on seed germination and seedling growth of redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) and maize (Zea mays L.), in order to be applied as a potential bioherbicide. The aqueous extract of mugwort was qualitatively examined for the presence of bioactive compounds and it was applied in a Petri dish and pot bioassays quantifying its eects on redroot pigweed and maize by non-linear regression analyses according the log-logistic model. The aqueous extract of mugwort showed the presence of several bioactive compounds with allelopathic activity, such as polysaccharides, organic acids, flavonoids and terpenoids. The aqueous extract of mugwort, at the concentrations from 7.5% to 10% w/v, were found to be the optimal concentration range since it is able to inhibit seed germination, seedling emergence and plant growth of redroot pigweed, without aecting seed germination and seedling emergence of maize, or rather, stimulating its radicle, mesocotyl and plant’s growth. EC90 values for the seed germination, radicle and hypocotyl length of redroot pigweed were in the order: 6.1% and 8.1%, 3.2% and 6.2%, 3.8% and 5.7% w/v of aqueous extract in the two repeated bioassays, respectively. Due to potential herbicidal activity against weeds and biostimulant action on the crops, this extract could be the ideal solution in an integrated weed management program, in order to suppress weeds, increasing competitive ability of crops.
2020
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11391/1479571
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 15
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 13
social impact