Chemical composition and herbicidal activity of Oregano (Origanum onites) essential oil on weeds and wheat

ABSTRACT

Oregano essential oil (EO) is known as one of the EOs with the highest biological activity on target plant species. In this study, the inhibitory effects of different doses of oregano (Origanum onites L.) EO on the germination and seedling growth of some wheat cultivars and some problem weed species in wheat fields was investigated. For this purpose, both laboratory and pot experiments were carried out. Oregano EO obtained by steam distillation method and component analysis was made via GS/MS. Germination tests and pot experiments were carried out under controlled laboratory and greenhouse conditions. In the study, five wheat varieties, four for bread and one for durum, and five different weed species were used. The effects of different doses of oregano EO on the germination rate, viable plant rate, seedling length, and biomass of test plants were analyzed. According to the results, it was observed that oregano EO showed bioactivity on all species and cultivars included in the experiment. In terms of all parameters, it was concluded that wheat varieties showed higher resistance to oregano EO than weed species. These results show that oregano EO can be used to control some weed species that are a problem in wheat.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Oregano
• essential oil
• bioherbicide
• allelopathy
• weed control
• wheat cultivars

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the Field Crops Central Research Institute of Turkish Agricultural Ministry for providing the wheat cultivars and Ms. Burcu Tazegül and Mr. Ender Gümüş for their help.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Yasin Emre Kitis

Yasin Emre Kitis is an Assistant Professor at the Plant Protection Department of the Akdeniz University. He is a head of the weed science laboratory and working on mainly alternative weed control methods to chemical control over 23 years.