Formation and characterization of Foeniculum vulgare oil nanoemulsion and it’s herbicidal potential
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Date
2020
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Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
Essential oil (EO) based bioherbicides are topic of interest for the new era agriculture
because of their sustainable use in the control of weeds. The present study aims to
formulate an oil/water (O/W) nanoemulsion (NEm) of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (fennel)
EO and evaluate its herbicidal activity against Phalaris minor Retz. and Avena
ludoviciana Durieu. Twenty-six compounds were detected in the GC-MS analysis of F.
vulgare EO of which estragole (43.16%) and anethole (29.34%) were the major
compounds. In the laboratory bioassay study, the EO concentration of 0.01, 0.02, 0.05,
0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 (wt%) significantly inhibited the germination and growth of
weeds in dose dependent manner. IC50 value of P. minor and A. ludoviciana was found to
be 0.12 and 0.03 (wt%), respectively. Two effective oil concentrations 0.05 and 0.1%
(wt%) were formulated into NEms with tween 80 (0.5 wt%) and water. Transmission
electron microscopy (TEM) and Z-average diameter data indicated the spherical nature of
droplet and confirmed the formation of NEms with average size below 130 nm.
Physicochemical properties of NEms indicated their O/W and isotropic nature. NEms
were stable to storage, centrifugation and dilution. Formulated NEms completely
inhibited the germination of P. minor and A. ludoviciana by adversely affecting the
physiological processes like membrane leakage and reactive oxygen species (ROS)
mediated cellular damage. The NEms of F. vulgare EO has herbicidal properties as it has
high phytotoxic effect and interferes with germination, growth and physiological
processes of weeds.