Searching for a natural herbicide: the role of medicinal plants? | Allan, S., Adkins, S. | Proceedings of the 4th World Congress on Allelopathy, "Establishing the Scientific Base", Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia, 21-26 August 2005 | Centre for Rural Social Research, Charles Sturt University

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Title: Searching for a natural herbicide: the role of medicinal plants?
Personal Authors: Allan, S., Adkins, S.
Author Affiliation: School of Land and Food Science, University of Queensland, St Lucia Qld 4072, Australia.
Editors: Harper, J. D. I., An, M., Wu, H., Kent, J. H.
Document Title: Proceedings of the 4th World Congress on Allelopathy, "Establishing the Scientific Base", Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia, 21-26 August 2005

Abstract:

The development of a natural herbicide has the potential to reduce detrimental environmental impacts and the evolution of herbicide-resistant weed populations. This research aims to explore the herbicide potential of naturally-occurring plant chemicals, allelochemicals, which can inhibit plant growth. Screening of 6 potentially allelopathic plant species - Acacia farnesiana, Ageratum conyzoides, Alphitonia excelsa, Castanospermum australe, Chamaesyce hyssopifolia and Melaleuca quinquenervia has been conducted using a Lemna (Lemna aequinoctialis) bioassay method. L. aequinoctialis were grown in a nutrient medium amended with aqueous extracts (2% w/v) produced from each species plant parts (viz. leaf, stem, bark, root, etc.) over a 7 day period. Photographs taken at Day 0 and Day 7 enabled the measurement of Lemna growth using Scion computer software. All 6 species caused inhibition of the growth of L. aequinoctialis with the strongest inhibition for each species produced by leaf extract of C. hyssopifolia (9% growth), leaf extract of A. conyzoides (12% growth), bark extract of M. quinquenervia (27% growth), seed pod extract of C. australe (31% growth), seed extract of A. farnesiana (32% growth) and leaf extract of A. excelsa (67% growth). From these initial observations, the stronger growth inhibitors will be chosen to proceed to the next stage of testing.

Publisher: Centre for Rural Social Research, Charles Sturt University

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