Resumen

SOTO-BARAJAS, Milton Carlos; PRADO, Blanca; LOPEZ-VADILLO, Augusto Esaú  y  RODRIGUEZ-AVILA, Norma Laura. Botanical extracts as potential herbicides in a corn crop. Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient [online]. 2025, vol.41, 55191.  Epub 19-Mayo-2025. ISSN 0188-4999.  https://doi.org/10.20937/rica.55191.

Secondary metabolite production, utilized by plants as a survival mechanism, may assist in weed control due to its inhibitory allelopathic effect. This study aimed to evaluate, for the first time, the phytotoxic effects of Metopium brownei (MB) and Viguiera dentata (VD) extracts, characterized by their allelopathic potential as reported in previous in vitro studies. The inhibitory effect of botanical extracts (BE) alone, combined, and with atrazine (AZ) in variable doses was assessed through field trials on both bare soil and cultivated maize. The presence of secondary metabolites in the BE was analyzed by phytochemical screening 24 and 72 h after preparation. Furthermore, an in vitro effect of the BE on germination and initial development of maize was analyzed. Both species’ composition of BE metabolites presented scarce differences; quinones were found exclusively in MB, while coumarins were only found in VD. No influence from de BE was shown on germination and initial growth of maize. Field studies indicated that 60 days after the application of the treatment in maize plots, weed control was similar both with the VD:AZ (2 kg/ha) mixture in a 3:1 (v/v) ratio and with atrazine at the minimum recommended dose. This formulation is proposed as an environmentally friendly option for weed control in corn, even with reduced doses of AZ. It allows for establishing sustainable alternatives that are less dependent on toxic synthetic chemicals for weed control.

Palabras llave : Metopium brownei; Viguiera dentata; weeds; bioherbicides; atrazine.

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