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Manuka Oil, A Natural Herbicide with Preemergence Activity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Franck E. Dayan ,
J'Lynn Howell ,
Jannie P. Marais ,
Daneel Ferreira  and
Marja Koivunen
Franck E. Dayan*
Affiliation:
United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Natural Products Utilization Research Unit, P.O. Box 8048, University, MS 38677
J'Lynn Howell
Affiliation:
United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Natural Products Utilization Research Unit, P.O. Box 8048, University, MS 38677
Jannie P. Marais
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacognosy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677
Daneel Ferreira
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacognosy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677
Marja Koivunen
Affiliation:
Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc., 2121 Second St. Suite 107B, Davis, CA 95618
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: fdayan@olemiss.edu, franck.dayan@ars.usda.gov
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Abstract

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Natural herbicides approved in organic agriculture are primarily nonselective burn-down essential oils applied POST. Multiple applications are often required due to their low efficacy. To address this problem, the in vivo herbicidal activity of manuka oil, the essential oil distilled from manuka tree (Leptospermum scoparium J.R. and G. Forst), was tested on selected broadleaf and grass weeds. While manuka oil exhibited good POST activity when applied in combination with a commercial lemongrass oil–based herbicide, it ultimately demonstrated interesting PRE activity, providing control of large crabgrass seedlings at a rate of 3 L ha−1. Manuka oil and its main active ingredient, leptospermone, were stable in soil for up to 7 d and had half-lives of 18 and 15 d, respectively. The systemic activity of manuka oil addresses many of the current limitations associated with natural herbicides. Additionally, its soil persistence opens up a multitude of new possibilities for the use of manuka oil as a tool for weed management and may be a potential bridge between traditional and organic agriculture.

Keywords

Leptospermone2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-6-(3-methyl-1-oxobutyl)-1,3,5-cyclohexanetrione, CAS 567-75-9large crabgrassDigitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. DIGSANatural producttriketonephytotoxinsherbicidemode of actionp-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenaseessential oilorganic agriculture
Type
Physiology, Chemistry, and Biochemistry
Information
Weed Science , Volume 59 , Issue 4 , December 2011 , pp. 464 - 469
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America

Footnotes

Current address: Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc., One Ocean Spray Drive, Lakeville-Middleboro, MA 02349.

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