Essential Oils from Two Apiaceae Species as Potential Agents in Organic Crops Protection

Abstract

Chemical composition and herbicidal, antifungal, antibacterial and molluscicidal activities of essential oils from Choukzerk, Eryngium triquetrum, and Alexander, Smyrnium olusatrum, from western Algeria were characterized. Capillary GC-FID and GC/MS were used to investigate chemical composition of both essential oils, and the antifungal, antibacterial, molluscicidal and herbicidal activities were determined by % inhibition. Collective essential oil of E. triquetrum was dominated by falcarinol (74.8%) and octane (5.6%). The collective essential oil of S. olusatrum was dominated by furanoeremophilone (31.5%), furanodiene+curzurene (19.3%) and (E)-β-caryophyllene (11%). The E. triquetrum oil was tested and a pure falcarinol (99%) showed virtuous herbicidal and antibacterial activities against potato blackleg disease, Pectobacteriumatrosepticum, and Gram-negative soil bacterium, Pseudomonas cichorii (85 and 100% inhibition, respectively), and high ecotoxic activity against brine shrimp, Artemia salina, and the freshwater snail, Biomphalaria glabrata, with an IC50 of 0.35 µg/mL and 0.61 µg/mL, respectively. Essential oil of S. olusatrum showed interesting antibacterial and ecotoxic activity and good herbicidal activity against watercress seeds, Lepidium sativum (74% inhibition of photosynthesis, 80% mortality on growth test on model watercress), while the furanoeremophilone isolated from the oil (99% pure) showed moderate herbicidal activity. Both oils showed excellent antifungal activity against Fusarium. Both oils and especially falcarinol demonstrated good potential as new biocontrol agents in organic crop protection.

Antifungal Sesquiterpenoids from Michelia formosana Leaf Essential Oil against Wood-Rotting Fungi

“…Antifungal index was calculated as the following: Antifungal index (%) = (1 − Dt/Dc) × 100, where Dt is the diameter of growth zone in the test dish and Dc is the diameter of growth zone in the control dish. IC 50 values, half maximal inhibitory concentration, of specimens were graphically obtained from the dose response curves derived from five concentrations [ 16 , 32 , 33 ]. The positive control, didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC), is a commercial fungicide used in wood preservatives.…”

Apiaceae Family as a Valuable Source of Biocidal Components and their Potential Uses in Agriculture

“…Eryngium triquetrum EO and its major constituent falcarinol showed strong herbicidal activity against Lepidium, while Smyrnium olusatrum EO showed moderate herbicidal activity. Therefore, E. triquetrum and S. olusatrum EOs can be used in crop protection to inhibit photosynthesis in weeds [55].…”

“…E. triquetrum EO exhibited strong antibacterial activities against potato blackleg disease, Pectobacterium atrosepticum, and the soil bacterium Pseudomonas cichorii, which is responsible for disease in lettuce, celery, and chrysanthemum, while S. olusatrum EO showed moderate antibacterial activity [55].…”

“…triquetrum and S. olusatrum EOs have potent antifungal and fumigant activity against Fusarium graminearum (cereal fusarium) and moderate activity against Botrytis cinerea (grey rot on tomatoes, strawberries). S. olusatrum EO showed strong antifungal activity against F. graminearum and Zymoseptoria tritici, which are responsible for the septoria blight [55].…”

“…Sabinene (54.4%), β-phellandrene (16.6%), germacrene D (6.7%), terpinen-4-ol (3.8%), γ-terpinene (2.4%), myrcene (2.0%)[69]Smyrnium olusatrumAlexander, Horse parsley Roots Essential oil Furanoeremophilone (31.5%), furanodiene (19.1%), (E)-βcaryophyllene (11%), β-pinene (3%)[55] Trachyspermum ammiAjwain, Ajowan caraway Seeds Essential oil Thymol (63.4%), p-cymene (19%), γ -terpinene (16.9%)[70] …”