Evaluation of Herbicidal Activity of Extract from Exotic Plants in Korea

Abstract

The authors collected 54 exotic plants in 30 families from all over Korea, made methanol extracts, and performed a seed bioassay with rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) and morning glory (Ipomoea nil L.) seeds to obtain GR₅₀ values. In this study, the herbicidal activity of MeOH extracts of 54 exotic plants was evaluated. As a result of In vitro seed bioassay on rapeseeds, no samples were found that met the criteria set by the researchers as high activity (GR50 < 1,000 μg g^-1). When soil treatment with exotic plant MeOH extract, Prunus padus L., Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi (Lamb) Carriere), Datura stramonium L., and Tagetes patula L. showed weak herbicidal effects against Amaranthus retroflexus and Digitaria ciliaris. It also showed weak herbicidal activity in foliage treatment. Veronica polita Fr., Tagetes patula L., and Caragana sinica showed weak selective herbicidal effects against sagebrush, Amaranthus lividus extract showed weak damage to corn (Zea mays L.). MeOH extracts from other exotic plants used in the experiment did not show signs of weakness or efficacy even when treated with soil or foliage. The results of this study suggest that exotic weeds inhabiting Korea do not contain herbicidal active substances and will not show serious ecological harm such as disturbance of the ecosystem through allelopathy.

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