The Herbicidal Activity of Nano- and MicroEncapsulated Plant Extracts on the Development of the Indicator Plants Sorghum bicolor and Phaseolus vulgaris and Their Potential for Weed Control

Marco Antonio Tucuch-Pérez, Evelyn Isabel Mendo-González, Antonio Ledezma-Pérez, Anna Iliná, Francisco Daniel Hernández-Castillo, Cynthia Lizeth Barrera-Martinez, Julia Cecilia Anguiano-Cabello, Elan Iñaky Laredo-Alcalá () and Roberto Arredondo-Valdés ()
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Marco Antonio Tucuch-Pérez: Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, Unidad Saltillo, Saltillo 25298, Mexico
Evelyn Isabel Mendo-González: Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, Unidad Saltillo, Saltillo 25298, Mexico
Antonio Ledezma-Pérez: Laboratorio de microbiología, Centro de Investigación en Química Aplicada, Saltillo 25294, Mexico
Anna Iliná: Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, Unidad Saltillo, Saltillo 25298, Mexico
Francisco Daniel Hernández-Castillo: Departamento de Parasitología Agrícola, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Buenavista, Saltillo 25315, Mexico
Cynthia Lizeth Barrera-Martinez: Centro de Investigación para la Conservación de la Biodiversidad y Ecología de Coahuila, Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, Unidad Norte, Cuatro Ciénegas de Carranza 27690, Mexico
Julia Cecilia Anguiano-Cabello: Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, Unidad Saltillo, Saltillo 25298, Mexico
Elan Iñaky Laredo-Alcalá: Centro de Investigación para la Conservación de la Biodiversidad y Ecología de Coahuila, Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, Unidad Norte, Cuatro Ciénegas de Carranza 27690, Mexico
Roberto Arredondo-Valdés: Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, Unidad Saltillo, Saltillo 25298, Mexico

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: Weeds decrease yield in crops through competition for water, nutrients, and light. Due to the circumstances mentioned above and the challenge of the emergence of herbicide-resistant weeds, developing sustainable alternatives becomes imperative. Plant extracts formulated into nano- and micro-encapsulates (NPs) emerge as a viable option for weed management. The objectives of this study were to identify phytochemical compounds within the ethanolic extracts of Carya illinoinensis , Ruta graveolens , and Solanum rostratum ; determine their pre-emergence herbicidal activity on the indicator plants Sorghum bicolor and Phaseolus vulgaris ; produce and characterize NPs with plant extracts; and assess their phytotoxicity under greenhouse conditions. The extracts were provided by Greencorp Biorganiks de México. Phytochemicals were identified through colorimetric assays and HPLC-MS, while pre-emergence tests were conducted in vitro, assessing concentrations of 12.5, 25, and 50% for each extract. NPs were synthesized using the ionotropic pre-gelation method, with size, zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency (EE) being characterized. Finally, post-emergence tests were carried out in a greenhouse with seedlings. Compounds belonging to the hydroxycinnamic acid, flavonol, methoxyflavonol, hydroxybenzoic acid, methoxyflavone, tyrosol, stilbene, and lignan families were identified in all extracts. The pre-emergence herbicidal activity was observed for all extracts, with germination percentages ranging from 0 to 41% in both indicator plants. NPs exhibited sizes between 290 and 345 nm, zeta potentials ranging from −30 to −35 mV, and EE up to 94%. Finally, enhanced herbicidal activity was observed with plant extract NPs, with the species S. bicolor being more susceptible. NPs containing plant extracts are a viable option for bioherbicide production; however, continued research is necessary to refine formulations and enhance efficacy.

Keywords: bioherbicides; plant extracts; nanotechnology; nanotechnology; allelopathy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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