Synthetic Herbicides Research Articles

Effect of Euphorbia hirta Leaf and Root Extracts on the Early Growth of Cucurbit Crops

The research investigates the allelopathic influence of Euphorbia hirta extracts on the germination and seedling development of various cucurbit species, including Bottle gourd (Sp. A), Winter melon (Sp. B), Ridged gourd (Sp. C), Sponge gourd (Sp. D), Bitter gourd (Sp. E), Snake gourd (Sp. F), Muskmelon (Sp. G), and Pumpkin (Sp. H). The experimental design incorporated the use of both aqueous and methanol extracts of E. hirta, applied at different concentrations, with distilled water employed as the control. The findings reveal that the methanolic extract of E. hirta significantly impedes both the germination process and the subsequent growth of seedlings for all cucurbit species tested. For instance, at 12 days post-treatment, control groups exhibited high germination percentages (78%, 90.67%, 95.33% and 90% for Sp. A, Sp. C, Sp. D and Sp. E, respectively), which drastically declined with a 20% methanol extract concentration (23.33%, 18.33%, and 17.67% and 18.33% for the same species, respectively). Similarly, shoot and root length measurements indicated that higher concentrations of both extracts suppressed growth, with methanol extract showing a stronger inhibitory effect compared to the aqueous extract. Interestingly, Lower extract concentrations occasionally boosted shoot growth, revealing a hormetic effect. This two-fold response, notably in Pumpkin and Snake Gourd, illuminates the complexity of allelopathic interactions. The study suggests E. hirta extracts could serve as eco-friendly herbicides, urging further research to isolate their active components. This could lessen synthetic herbicide use, promoting sustainable agriculture and environmental protection.

Soil Actinomycetes as Promising Alternative to Synthetic Herbicides


 Weed management is a key agronomic practice in agriculture. Since decades, synthetic herbicides played an indispensable role in weed control due to high effectiveness. However, recently there has been growing interest on exploring alternative weed control methods due to negative impacts of synthetic herbicides on the environment. Besides, there is an increasing demand for organic farm products. Actinomycetes, a group of filamentous, Gram-positive bacteria known for their bioactive secondary metabolites, have emerged as potential candidates for bioherbicides. In this study, we investigated herbicidal potential of twenty-three morphologically distinct actinomycetes strains isolated from soil using lettuce (Lactuca sativa) as a model plant. Eight weeks-old cell-free culture fermentation broth of actinomycetes strains were used for screening the effect on seed germination and seedling growth. Lettuce seeds were exposed to fermentation broth for two weeks while for control, sterilized distilled water was used. Ten seeds per treatment in three replicates were used. The results showed that sixteen actinomycetes strains, ACM25, 26, 29, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 41, 42, 43, 47, 48, 49.1 and 49.2 and ACM50 were able to completely inhibit seed germination while seeds treated with ACM32 did not produce roots although seed germination had initiated. It appears that these seventeen strains would be effective at pre-emergence weed control. Seeds that treated with the rest of the six strains had no effect on the seed germination. However, seedlings of ACM24, 45 and ACM46-treated seeds showed deaths by two weeks. Their gradual death started with discoloration of leaves followed by watery rotting of the entire plant. Seedlings of ACM30, 31, 37- treated seeds survived, and their growth performance were observed for two weeks compared to the control. Seedlings were dwarf and exhibited growth deformations such as reduced leaf size, chlorosis, leaf curling and stunted roots. Further, number of leaves, shoot length and root length were significantly different (p<0.05) from that of the control. These observations suggest that the effect of ACM24, 30, 31, 37, 45 and ACM46 would be systemic. In conclusion, our results clearly showed strong herbicidal effects of all tested twenty-three strains of actinomycetes at pre- and post- emergence stages of seed germination. Thus, they can be promising candidates for bioherbicide formulations.
 
 Keywords: Actinomycetes, Bioherbicides, Weed management, Sustainable agriculture

Potensi Asap Cair Tandan Kosong Kelapa Sawit Untuk Menekan Pertumbuhan Gulma Teki (Cyperus kyllingia)

C. kyllingia is an annual weed that can cause problems because it can reduce the quantity and quality of cultivated plant production, so this weed needs to be controlled. Weed control with synthetic herbicides is currently more popular because its effectiveness can be seen more quickly. However, if synthetic herbicides are used for a long period of time, they will affect soil conditions. Therefore, an alternative weed control using liquid smoke from empty oil palm fruit bunches (TKKS) is needed. The research aims to determine the potential of TKKS liquid smoke in controlling the growth of sedge weed (C. kyllingia). The design used a 1 factor Completely Randomized Design consisting of 5 treatments and 5 replications with liquid smoke concentrations of 0%, 8.3%, 16.6%, 25% and 33.3%. Research shows that TKKS liquid smoke has the potential to be used as a natural herbicide because it has an effect on suppressing the growth of the C. kyllingia weed. The best concentration that can suppress weed growth is 33.3% liquid smoke.

The potential of seaweeds as a rich natural source for novel bioherbicide formulation/development

AbstractRecently, there has been emphasis on the need to shift away from the use of synthetic chemical herbicides to low-risk alternatives derived from natural sources. This is aimed at lowering or averting the negative impact synthetic herbicides have on the environment and dealing with the emergence of weed species resistant to these chemicals. As a result, more stringent measures or outright bans on the use of most synthetic herbicides have been put in place by regulatory bodies. As seaweeds are abundant resources in the marine environment that have the capacity to produce diverse bioactive compounds, they could serve as sustainably viable, natural, and low-risk alternatives/sources to explore for potential phytotoxic capabilities. This could in turn help to enhance or boost the availability of effective solutions in the global bioherbicide market. This review highlights the prospects of using seaweeds as novel biopesticides for the control and management of various plant pests, including weed species, and for the development of sustainable agriculture/forestry practices. More specifically, it focuses on their use as a rich natural source for novel bioherbicide development, a potential that has remained underexplored for many years. However, to unlock the full potential of seaweed-derived bioherbicides and to create a potential path toward their development, increased research and development efforts are urgently needed to tackle and overcome possible constraints posed in this novel area, such as variability in seaweed chemical composition, formulation technologies, stability and efficacy of seaweed bioactive compounds, cost and scalability, and environmental considerations.

Response of conventional sunflower cultivars to drift rates of synthetic auxin herbicides.

The agrochemical industry has launched several new synthetic auxin herbicides in rice to combat increasing numbers of herbicide resistant weeds to other modes of action. Excessive or inappropriate use of these herbicides has resulted in unintended consequences near the sites of application, such as herbicide drift. This study was conducted to determine the impact of drift of quinclorac and florpyrauxifen-benzyl+penoxsulam (FBP) on the yield and yield components of two sunflower cultivars. In a growth chamber experiment, quinclorac and FBP were applied to 2-4 true leaf stages at rates ranging from 2.93 to 93.75 and from 0.51 to 16.25 g ai ha-1, respectively. Nonlinear regression analyses indicated that the cultivar Bosfora was more sensitive to quinclorac and FBP than the cultivar Tunca. In field experiments, these sunflower cultivars were treated with drift rates of quinclorac (<375 g ai ha-1) and FBP (<65 g ai ha-1) when they were at the 8-10 true leaf stage. Quinclorac and FBP drift rates resulted in up to 52-61% and 85-100% injury and 82-88% and 100% yield loss, respectively. Crop injury and yield data clearly showed that cultivar Bosfora was more sensitive to FBP and quinclorac rates than cultivar Tunca, and both cultivars were more sensitive to FBP than quinclorac. In our work, we also found that plant height reduction caused by quinclorac at early growth stages may be a valuable indicator to evaluate crop injury and yield loss.

Degradation and sorption of the herbicide pelargonic acid in subsoils below railway tracks compared to a range of topsoils

BackgroundPelargonic acid is a non-selective herbicide derived from natural sources with a range of potential applications in areas where synthetic herbicides may be less acceptable. One such use area is weed control on railway tracks. To assess the potential leaching of pelargonic acid to groundwater for this specific use, we conducted degradation and sorption studies with soils from railway tracks and, for comparison, with a range of topsoils.ResultsDegradation of pelargonic acid was very rapid in subsoils from railway tracks with half-lives (DT50) of < 1 day (geom. mean DT50, 5.8 h), and even faster in the selected agricultural topsoils (1.5 h). The starting concentration had a strong influence with much slower degradation at higher spike levels. Adsorption to the railway soils (alkaline soils with low organic matter content) was expectedly weak (Freundlich adsorption coefficients KF of 0.06–0.31 mL/g) and clearly stronger in the topsoils (0.2–40 mL/g). Organic carbon normalized adsorption coefficients (KFoc) ranged from 11 to 371 mL/g (all soils) and were pH dependent, consistent with the behaviour of weak acids. Computer modelling using the software PELMO and a set of scenarios for herbicide use on railway tracks developed for the authorisation in Germany yielded predicted environmental concentrations in groundwater of < 0.001 µg/L when parameterised with the adsorption and degradation endpoints from subsoils.ConclusionsThe leaching potential of pelargonic acid may be considered low even in application scenarios with sandy soils with low organic matter content such as those found below railway tracks.

Response of stevia to reduced-risk synthetic and nonsynthetic herbicides applied post-transplant

Abstract Greenhouse trials were conducted to determine the response of stevia to reduced-risk synthetic and nonsynthetic herbicides applied over-the-top post-transplant. In addition, field trials were conducted with stevia grown in a polyethylene mulch production system to determine crop response and weed control in planting holes to reduced-risk synthetic and nonsynthetic herbicides applied post-transplant directed. Treatments included caprylic acid plus capric acid, clove oil plus cinnamon oil, d-limonene, acetic acid (200 grain), citric acid, pelargonic acid, eugenol, ammonium nonanoate, and ammoniated soap of fatty acids. Stevia yield (dry aboveground biomass) in the greenhouse was reduced by all herbicide treatments. Citric acid and clove oil plus cinnamon oil were the least injurious, reducing yield by 16% to 20%, respectively. In field studies, d-limonene, pelargonic acid, ammonium nonanoate, and ammoniated soap of fatty acids controlled Palmer amaranth (&gt;90% 1 wk after treatment (WAT). In field studies caprylic acid plus capric acid, pelargonic acid, and ammonium nonanoate caused &gt;30% injury to stevia plants at 2 WAT, and d-limonene, citric acid, acetic acid, and ammoniated soap of fatty acids caused 18% to 25% injury 2 WAT. Clove oil plus cinnamon oil and eugenol caused &lt;10% injury. Despite being injurious, herbicides applied in the field did not reduce yield compared to the nontreated check. Based upon yield data, these herbicides have potential for use in stevia; however, these products could delay harvest if applied to established stevia. In particular, clove oil plus cinnamon oil has potential for use for early-season weed management for organic production systems. The application of clove oil plus cinnamon oil over-the-top resulted in &lt;10% injury 28 d after treatment (DAT) in the greenhouse and 3% injury 6 WAT postemergence-directed in the field. In addition, this treatment provided 95% control of Palmer amaranth 4 WAT.

Evaluation of florpyrauxifen-benzyl for control of Old World climbing fern

Old World climbing fern [Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R. Br.; OWCF] is an invasive vine in many Florida wetlands. Management involves poodle cutting the climbing rachis at approximately 120 cm, with a subsequent foliar application of glyphosate to the remaining rooted vines. Recently, there has been increasing interest in synthetic auxin herbicides for OWCF control. Florpyrauxifen-benzyl is a new auxin mimic that was developed for weed control in aquatics and is selective at low use rates. There is limited information regarding its activity on OWCF. We conducted field studies at four wetland sites in south Florida from 2017 to 2020 to evaluate the effectiveness of florpyrauxifen-benzyl for OWCF control. In small-plot studies at two locations, florpyrauxifen-benzyl applied at 0.08 and 0.16 g L 1 reduced OWCFcover to 4%at 3 moafter treatment (MAT) and 21% at 6 MAT.However, florpyrauxifen-benzyl at these concentrations did not consistently control OWCF at 12 MAT. An additional study evaluated banded applications of florpyrauxifen-benzyl or glyphosate compared to poodle cutting for control of the climbing rachis. For both herbicides, banded applications did not control the climbing rachis, whereas poodle cutting provided complete control of all climbing rachis. Finally, an operational field study demonstrated florpyrauxifen-benzyl applied by professional applicators at 0.16 g L 1 reduced OWCF cover to 9% at 17 MAT and was not different from glyphosate applied at 14.4 g L 1. These studies indicate florpyrauxifen-benzyl is active on OWCF and future research should evaluate the effectiveness of repeat applications for longer-term control.

Allelopathic Effect of Methanol Extract of Parthenium Plant Parts on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Digitaria sanguinalis L. and Eleusine indica L.

For sustainable weed management, herbicides produced from natural ingredients could be an excellent environmentally acceptable alterna-tive to synthetic chemical herbicides. This study looked at the alle-lopathic effects of methanol extract of Parthenium hysterophorus stem, leaf, and flower on seed germination and seedling growth of two weed species, crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis L.) and goosegrass (Eleusine indica L.). Five different concentrations of the extract (0, 25, 50, 75, 100, and 150 g L-1) were compared. Percent inhibition in seed germination, root and shoot growth were calculated and EC50 (concentration required to cause 50% growth inhibition) of test weeds were measured. The extracts affected the seed sprouting and seedling growth of test weed species significantly. Leaf and flower extracts were found more phytotoxic than the stem extract. An amount of 50 g L-1 of plant mass was enough to suppress effectively all parameters of the test weed species (designated as EC50). The leaf and flower of Parthenium hysterophorus might contain a number of plant inhibitors or phytotoxins, which could be exploited in future to create a natural herbicide.

INIBIDORES DO FOTOSSISTEMA II: UMA PERSPECTIVA ALELOQUÍMICA

PHOTOSYSTHEM II INHIBITORS: AN ALLELOCHEMICAL PERSPECTIVE. The process of photosynthesis involves the absorption of light energy by photosynthetic pigments found in the thylakoid membrane of chloroplasts in order to produce chemical energy. In the presence of photosynthetic inhibitors, plant development is affected mainly by the reduction of the electron chain, which leads to growth inhibition. In this context, chlorophyll a (Chl a) fluorescence is an important technique used to identify the effects of inhibitors on the photosynthetic apparatus employing the JIP-test, which correlates the Chl a fluorescence transient to biophysical parameters, providing valuable information about the efficiency of photosystems I and II. Natural products have been highlighted as photosynthesis inhibitors due to the continued use of synthetic herbicides, which leads to the development of invasive plants resistant to these pesticides, in addition to the toxicity caused to humans and the environment. Thus, this review describes the main applications of extracts and isolated secondary metabolites obtained from plants and microorganisms in the investigation of electron transport inhibition on photosystem II.

Phytochemical Characterization and Assessment of Crude Extracts from Justicia adhatoda for Phytotoxic and Cytotoxic Activity

Background. The aim of the study was to investigate the cytotoxicity, phytotoxicity, and proximate and phytochemical analysis of methanolic extracts of the leaves of Justicia adhatoda. Methods. Methanolic leaf extract of J. adhatoda was screened for phytotoxic activity by using root length inhibition and seed germination assays. Cytotoxic activity was calculated using brine shrimp lethality bioassay. Plant extracts were also investigated for their proximate composition. The presence of several phytochemicals was tested by employing different methods. Results. Decrease in seed germination and root length, 62.67% and 83.11%, was proportional to the increasing concentration of the methanolic extract of the plant. Cytotoxicity assay results indicated that the methanolic extract possessed significant cytotoxic potential with an LC‐50 of 217 µg/ml. Proximate analysis revealed that the leaves of J. adhatoda contain 9.4% moisture, 90.6% dry matter, 19.25% crude protein, 4.5% crude fat, 8.0% crude fiber, and 11.5% total ash. Conclusion. Methanolic extracts of J. adhatoda leaves showed significant cytotoxic effects and may have potential use in medicine. The J. adhatoda foliar extract shows good inhibitory effects against seed germination and root growth. Therefore, it might be used as soil additive in crops to control weeds. Further research is required to detect and isolate phytotoxins from the plant that might replace synthetic herbicides with eco‐friendly herbicides.

The application of Florpyrauxifen-benzyl 25 g/L, a new auxin synthetic herbicide, to control and inhibit the growth of water hyacinth weed (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart). Solms)

Water hyacinth is an invasive species that spreads rapidly and causes several issues in aquatic habitats; therefore, efforts are required to eradicate weeds in aquatic ecosystems. Aquatic weed control in Indonesia using herbicide is very limited, so it can be an alternative for aquatic weed control management. This research goal was to examine the effectiveness of the herbicide with active agent Florpyrauxifen-benzyl 25 g/L in controlling and inhibiting the rapid growth of (E. crassipes). This research was carried out at the Ciparanje Greenhouse and Weed Science Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture Universitas Padjadjaran, West Java, Indonesia, from August to October 2022. The experiment utilized a randomized block design (RBD) with eight treatments and four replications. The treatments consisted of herbicides with active ingredients Florpyrauxifen-benzyl 25 g/L doses of 5, 15, 25, 35, 45, herbicide 2,4-D DMA 825 g/L (1200), Penoxsulam 25 g/L (12.5) (g a.i/ha), and Control (Without Herbicide). According to the experiments, E. crassipes was effectively inhibited and controlled by the herbicide Florpyrauxifen-benzyl 25 g/L at a dose of 5 g a.i./ha. Florpyrauxifen-benzyl 25 g/L herbicide can inhibit relative growth rate, doubling time, number of leaves and clumps of E. crassipes up to 6 WAA.

Cu3(BTC)2 metal organic framework as a promising adsorbent for operative exclusion of toxic dyes and herbicide

Synthetic organic dyes and herbicide pollutants pose a significant threat to water quality due to their high solubility in water and widespread industrial discharge. In water conservation developments, the Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are considered confident and substantial for the exclusion of toxic organic dyes, due to their multi-potential assets of cost-effective, high pore volume, high thermal stability, easy adaptation to toxic dye molecules, and most of them are stable in water, etc. Hence, the green synthetic methodology was employed for the combination of Cu3(BTC)2 MOF, which is draped with carboxylate functionality ligands, as an adsorbent to remove the hazardous dyes of Methyl Orange (MO), Acid Yellow (AY), and toxic herbicide of Atrazine (ATZ) from contaminated wastewater. As-reported Cu3(BTC)2 was evidently characterized by XRD, FTIR, TGA, XPS, SEM, and EDAX analysis. The equilibrium adsorption capacity (Qe) value of as-reported Cu3(BTC)2 for AY, MO, and ATZ was better in comparison with the formerly reported adsorbent. The high adsorption capacity of Cu3(BTC)2 for AY (777 mg/g), MO (903 mg/g), and ATZ (484 mg/g) is principally explained by π-π and electrostatic interaction. As a result, Cu3(BTC)2 is reported and proposed as a suitable adsorbent for the abolition of toxic dyes and herbicides from contaminated water.

Impact of dose and adjuvant on herbicidal efficacy of birch‐based pyrolysis liquid

AbstractReduction of pesticide use to benefit the environment is a topical issue in the EU. There is a call for development and more widespread use of sustainable alternative weed control measures. Pyrolysis liquid (PL), a by‐product of charcoal and biochar production, contains numerous compounds, including organic acids, alcohols, phenols and furans. PL has shown promising results when used against several broad‐leaved weeds but its effect on grassy weeds is largely untested. To provide an alternative to synthetic herbicides, PL should be effective and applicable at field scale. In this research, we initially evaluated the potential of birch (Betula sp.) based PL to control mono‐ and dicotyledonous plants under greenhouse conditions and determined if efficacy is improved by addition of an adjuvant. Second, the efficacy of PL for controlling Elymus repens (L.) Gould was compared with glyphosate and two other synthetic herbicides in a no‐tillage system under field conditions. As expected, dicotyledonous plants were more sensitive to acid‐based herbicides than monocotyledonous plants. In contrast to our expectations, the herbicidal efficacy of PL was lower than an acetic acid‐based herbicide and addition of an adjuvant did not improve efficacy. In conclusion, when used at commercially and practically realistic doses, the efficacy of PL control on monocotyledonous weeds such as E. repens is weak. More product development is needed to improve PL quality and efficacy and to establish practical and cost‐effective application levels for weed control on the field scale.

ZnO2‐Based Carbon Composite Doped with Sulphur for the Removal of Highly Toxic Thiamethoxam from Wastewater

AbstractThe ongoing exponential increase in population intensifies the overexploitation of food, water, energy, and other resources. Overcoming the problem has emerged as a tedious task, and the most probable solution seems to be upgradation in agricultural practices. To achieve a superior quality harvest with maximum yield, synthetic herbicides, insecticides, weedicides, and pesticides have been extensively developed and employed. These pesticides generally wash down to the water bodies, polluting the water and causing serious health issues for human, animal, and aquatic lives. The suggested study uses a zinc peroxide (ZnO2) based carbon composite doped with sulphur adsorbent to remove the very hazardous pesticide thiamethoxam (TMX) from the contaminated water in a cost‐effective and efficient manner. In an acidic environment, a remarkable removal efficiency of 99.5 % is achieved at pH levels 1–3. Additionally, at pH level 11, an impressive removal rate of 96.4 % is obtained. Furthermore, this composite material exhibits a high adsorption capacity of 142.86 mg/g. The batch studies experiments revealed that the adsorption of TMX. complied with the Langmuir isotherm model and demonstrated Pseudo‐second order kinetics. The adsorbent eco‐friendly and effective, can be prepared easily, is ecologically friendly, and does not cause any sort of secondary pollution. The present work has high potential to take the science of water purification to the next step further.

The Bio-herbicidal potential of some wild plants with allelopathic effects from Tabuk Region on selected local weed species.

Weeds are considered one of the most serious problems limiting global agricultural production. As a result, chemical herbicides have been extensively used for weed control. However, overuse of synthetic herbicides, has resulted in public concerns over the effect of herbicides on the health of the ecosystems and humans. In the food system, innovative approaches are needed to foster sustainable practices that preserve biodiversity, conserve habitats, and mitigate climate change factors. Thus, alternatives are required to control the weeds. This study aimed to determine the impact of some wild plants' (Citrullus colocynthis, Euphorbia retusa, Retama raetam, Artemisia monosperma, Tamarix gallica, and Artemisia judaica) allelopathic potentials (at rates of 0, 15, 25, 35, and 50 g/L) on seed germination of selected local weeds (Portulaca oleracea, Amaranthus retroflexus, and Chloris barbata) collected from different locations in Tabuk region, Saudi Arabia. GC-MS analysis was used to evaluated the main compounds in the wild plants under study. The experimental design was completely randomized block design (CRBD) with three replicates. According to the results, phytochemical screening of the wild plants using GC-MS analysis showed a wide range of phytochemicals. Amaranthus retroflexus exhibited the highest germination rate in the control group. In addition, applying 5 g/L and 20 g/L of Citrullus colocynthis extracts had no discernible effect on the rate of germination of A. retroflexus seed; however, they were able to reduce the germination rate as compared to the control. As the extract concentration of Artemisia monosperma rose to 20 g/L, the germination rate of A. retroflexus dropped. Neither 35 g L-1 nor 50 g L-1 of A. monosperma extract inhibited the germinate of A. retroflexus. The germination rate of Portulaca oleracea decreased with increasing extract concentration of C. colocynthis. The extract of C. colocynthis at 50 g/L had the lowest rate. The germination rate of Chloris barbata decreased with increasing extract concentration of C. colocynthis. The highest germination rate of C. barbata was observed in control, followed by 5g/L, while no germination was observed at 20, 35, and 50 g/L of C. colocynthis extracts. A. retroflexus's root length shrank when the extract concentration of C. colocynthis rose. A. retroflexus's control sample had the most extended root length, followed by 5 and 20 g/L, respectively. C. colocynthis at 35 and 50 g/L showed no root elongation as this treatment inhibited radicle protrusion. High concentration of d-Glycero-d-galacto-heptose and pentane in C. colocynthis aqueous extract may be the cause of C. colocynthis' ability to inhibit Chloris barbata germination. The entire C. barbata plant length decreased when treated with 5 g/L of C. colocynthis extract. No growth was seen at any of the higher C. colocynthis concentrations (20, 35, and 50 g/L). The present work revealed that cultivating allelopathic crops like the selected studied wild plants from the Tabuk region has a promising future as an antagonistic species in a biological weed control program or combined with integrated weed management in agricultural food production.

Acute oral poisoning due to pretilachlor herbicide – a rare case report from Nepal

Introduction: Acute oral intoxication of pretilachlor, a synthetic chloroacetanilide herbicide, can present similar clinical manifestations of organophosphorus toxicity in humans. Case presentation: A 15-year-old male was admitted after suicidal ingestion of pretilachlor poison, with decreased consciousness and blood-mixed vomiting. Discussion: Pretilachlor is a colorless and odorless liquid that can cause neurotoxicity and carcinogenicity due to its prolonged exposure. The effects of acute oral exposure are mild and may differ from chronic exposure. Individuals exposed to chloroacetanilides may not show symptoms or experience vomiting and neurological issues. Clinical manifestations such as vomiting, excessive lacrimation, bowel and bladder incontinence, bradycardia, and hypotension can be observed in both organophosphate poisoning and pretilachlor poisoning, making accurate diagnosis challenging, particularly in resource-limited settings like ours. There is no specific antidote for pretilachlor poisoning. Treatment focuses on symptomatic care and monitoring the patient’s hemodynamics as per standard protocol. Conclusion: This case underscores the need for prompt stabilization, vigilant monitoring, and supportive care to ensure timely recovery in pretilachlor poisoning cases despite similarities with organophosphate poisoning. It emphasizes the importance of educating and raising awareness among physicians about potential mimickers like organophosphates.

Potential of different common (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) and Tartary (Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn.) buckwheat accessions to sustainably manage surrounding weeds

Twenty-nine accessions of two buckwheat species (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench (common buckwheat) and Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn. (Tartary buckwheat) were evaluated for their allelopathic potential against two resistant weeds, the monocot Lolium rigidum Gaud. and the dicot Portulaca oleracea L. The bulking use of synthetic herbicides and their consequent contamination of the environment and resulting increment of herbicide-resistant weeds, imminently requires a solution to achieve sustainable weed management without chemical inputs. The results obtained in this study suggest that buckwheat accessions can sustainably manage weeds through plant interference as competition or allelopathy. This research showed that accessions differ in their potential for sustainably managing both weeds with F. esculentum accessions being more effective against L. rigidum and F. tataricum accessions against both, monocot and dicot weeds. The chemical profile of buckwheat accessions was evaluated to know the content of polyphenols in common and Tartary buckwheat accessions and to know more about their ability to manage weeds sustainably. Differences in the chemical profile between the two buckwheat species were clear. While common buckwheat accessions showed more orientin, vitexin and hyperoside, Tartary buckwheat accessions had higher amounts of rutin, quercetin and kaempferol. We propose that the screening and selection of accessions with strong polyphenol content and vigorous growth can be a step towards organic farming due to its relation to the weed management.

Effect of Different Parameters (Treatment Administration Mode, Concentration and Phenological Weed Stage) on Thymbra capitata L. Essential Oil Herbicidal Activity

The essential oil (EO) of Thymbra capitata has been demonstrated to possess herbicidal activity and could be used as an alternative to synthetic herbicides with reduced persistence in soil and new mode of action. Nevertheless, it is necessary to determine the adequate doses for its use, the proper way for its application and the best phenological stage of weeds and crops in which the EO should be applied to obtain maximum efficacy against weeds without compromising crop production. In this work, T. capitata EO was tested at three different concentrations against weeds grown from a citrus orchard soil seedbank untreated with herbicides and against three important weed species grown in substrate to determine the efficacy of the concentrations on different weed species. All experiments were carried out under greenhouse conditions. To find out the best way for applying the EO, it was applied by irrigation and by spraying on the targeted weeds, and to verify the influence of timing, it was tested on Lolium rigidum at two different phenological stages and on wheat at a later phenological stage than weeds. The highest concentration tested (12 µL·mL−1) showed the best performance to control weeds. The more effective mode of application was by spraying on dicotyledons and by irrigation on monocotyledons at the earliest phenological stage. T. capitata EO was phytotoxic for wheat. More trials in different crops are needed to determine the best conditions for its use.

Study of Sambiloto Andrographis paniculate Ness. Extract as an Eco-Friendly Biocontrol on Weed Seed Germination and Growth

The use of synthetic herbicides causes many problems, including pollution, a decrease in soil organic content, and weed resistance to specific herbicides. Plants provide a source of novel phytotoxic compounds that can be evaluated in the search for efficient and ecologically safe herbicides. This research aimed to examine the allelochemical bioherbicidal activity of sambiloto (Andrographis paniculate Ness) leaf extract (SLE) to suppress weed seed germination and growth. The experiment was designed to investigate the effect of the SLE as a potent weed seed germination inhibitor and retard weed growth. In this experiment, a non-factorial randomized block design was used, with treatments SLE0 (0% Extract), SLE1 (Extract 0.1%), SLE2 (Extract 0.5%), SLE3 (Extract 1.0%), and SLE4 (Extract 1.5%). The result showed that weed height and biomass were significantly reduced after the extract was applied. The plant-based extracts contained 0.1114% flavonoids and 0.1628% tannins. The findings suggest that this sambiloto herbaceous extract has a promising future in modern plant protection as bioherbicide to suppress germination and weed growth. Therefore, the application of these bio-products could be beneficial for sustainable agricultural practices.