Little is known about the phytotoxic effects of essential oils from Pine species, GC and GC/MS analysis of Pinus radiata D. Don essential oil obtained from needles, resulted in the identification of 49 components comprising % of the oil totality. The composition was l dominated by monoterpene hydrocarbons ( %) with β-pinene ( %), limonene ( %) and α-pinene ( %) were the major compounds. On the herbicidal activity, the oil strongly inhibited seed germination and seedling growth of all tested weeds in a dose dependent manner with the effect being significantly more effective on dicots (Sinapis arvensis L. and Trifolium campestre Schreb) than monocots (Phalaris canariensis L.). |
