Phytotoxic Activity of Essential Oils

Abstract

Awareness about pollution worldwide through the excessive use of chemicals that affect every part of our environment makes the urgent need to use natural alternatives eco-friendly materials to reduce the losses come from synthetic chemicals. In recent decades, a great leap has been made to control weed by synthetic herbicides which are considered the most effective weed control method in comparison with the other methods. Although synthetic herbicides are considered less toxic between other pesticides such as insecticides and fungicides, the usual use, even if it is used at the recommended rates harmed the environment and human health. Previous works indicated that Essential oils have been demonstrated to have good phytotoxic activity on various plant species by suppressing germination and reducing growth parameters. Phytotoxic activity of essential oils can act directly as bioherbicide by effects on one or more than one of the biological processes inside plants which cause the death of plant completely or partially. This chapter highlights the desirable phytotoxic activity of essential oils and their possible uses as natural weed killers.