PHYTOTOXIC POTENTIAL OF EUCALYPTUS ESSENTIAL OILS FOR WEED CONTROL

The widespread use of synthetic herbicides has resulted in herbicide-resistant weeds, disturbed ecological balance and negative effects on human health. Due to this fact, it is necessary to rely on alternative weed control strategies using natural compounds released by plants, such as essential oils (EOs). EOs have a short half-life since they are biodegradable, and are safer than synthetic compounds, with little damage to the environment, without even contaminating ground water (Topal and Kocaçalıskan 2006). Essential oils from different species contain allelochemical compounds that possess significant phytotoxic activity. Azizi and Fuji (2006) demonstrated that Eucalyptus (family Myrtacea…