Allelopathic and herbicidal activities of Hedychium forrestii essential oils against major rice weeds
摘要
Chemical herbicides are facing increasing challenges due to the evolution of resistance and environmental concerns, prompting interest in plant-derived allelochemicals for sustainable weed control. This study evaluated the essential oils (EOs) of Hedychium forrestii leaves (HFLEO) and rhizomes (HFREO) as a potential natural phytotoxic agent against barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli) and weedy rice (Oryza sativa f. spontanea), two invasive weed species in rice production. The EOs were hydrodistilled (yields: 0.26% for HFLEO and 0.45% for HFREO), and analyzed chemical composition by GC–MS, and then tested in dose–response bioassays (0–16 µL/mL). The most abundant compound in both EOs was β-pinene (23.78–24.85%), followed by 1,8-cineol and α-pinene. Both EOs inhibited E. crus-galli growth dose-dependently, with HFLEO showing superior efficacy at 4 µL/mL (89.42% shoot, 96.91% root inhibition). Complete growth suppression (100%) occurred at ≥ 8 µL/mL for E. crus-galli and at 16 µL/mL for O. sativa f. spontanea. Collectively, these results highlight HFLEO as a potent and eco-friendly natural phytotoxic candidate for the sustainable management of rice weeds, particularly barnyard grass and weedy rice.