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Common sunflower is a competitive annual native dicot found in disturbed areas, on roadsides, dry prairies, and in row crops. Common sunflower is a competitive weed, but little data exist on interference, economic impacts, and competition in field corn. Field studies were conducted in 2006 and 2007 to 1) define the density-dependent effects of common sunflower competition with corn; 2) define the necessary weed-free periods of common sunflower in corn; 3) evaluate common sunflower control with herbicides; 4) and define the economic impact of common sunflower interference with corn. Corn grain yield was significantly reduced when common sunflower densities reached 1 plant/m of row and potentitially damaging common sunflower densities occurred if allowed to compete for more than 2 to 4 wk after planting for maximum corn yield. No significant corn yield reduction occurred if common sunflowers emerged 8 wk after planting. Growing degree day (GDD) heat units for corn showed that the critical point for control of common sunflower was approximately 300 GDD. Atrazine applied PRE, atrazine followed by (fb) glyphosate or halosulfuron POST, glyphosate POST, halosulfuron POST, and halosulfuron plus nicosulfuron POST controlled >87% of common sunflower. Atrazine applied PRE in a 30-cm band, nicosulfuron POST, and atrazine broadcast plus S-metolachlor PRE showed significantly lower common sunflower control and corn grain yield, when compared to atrazine PRE fb glyphosate POST. Economic impact of one sunflower/6 m of crop row caused a yield loss of 293 kg/ha. Various corn planting densities showed that corn yield can be reduced 1990 kg/ha with common sunflower competition. Corn planting densities of 49400 and 59300 plants/ha provided the greatest net returns with or without the presence of common sunflower competition. The highest net returns occurred with no common sunflower competition in 2006 and 2007, at $3,046/ha and $2,687/ha, respectively, when net corn prices were $0.24/kg ($6.00/bu). Potential control costs of various herbicide treatments revealed net returns of $1,156 to $1,910/ha in 2006 and $1,158 to $1,943/ha in 2007. Determining the economic impact of common sunflower interference in field corn allows producers to estimate the overall net return based upon density and duration of common sunflower interference, while considering varying net corn prices, crop planting density, and herbicide application costs.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Chameleon plant (Houttuynia cordata Thunb.) is native to Southern and Southeastern Asia. It can reproduce sexually through seeds and asexually through rhizomes and is invasive in multiple countries including the U.S. There has been much research on H. cordata as a medicinal species, and its potential as an invasive species is well documented. However, its herbicidal resistance has not previously been quantified. The objective of this study is to assess H. cordata’s resistance to herbicides. This study consisted of two rounds of tests to examine the resistance of H. cordata plants to three commonly used herbicides: SpeedZone, Weed-B-Gon, and Roundup. Two concentrations of each herbicide were used during each trial in the study: the recommended concentration and twice the recommended concentration. Herbicide treatments were applied outside the greenhouse. Herbicides were sprayed uniformly on the plants until the herbicide was dripping off the leaves. The growth of the treated plants was then monitored in the greenhouse. The herbicides generally reduced growth of the plants temporarily. However, plant extermination was not achieved. Plant samples from all herbicidal treatments regrew from rhizomes after all herbicide treatments. Results from the study showed that H. cordata could not be controlled by the recommended concentrations of herbicides commercially available for horticultural uses in the U.S. Doubling the recommended herbicide concentration was also ineffective in exterminating H. cordata plants. This research clearly showed that H. cordata has the potential to become a highly invasive species with the potential to negatively affect the ecological integrity of many communities in the U.S.

This paper examines the evolution of government policy through Congressional debate and citizen involvement on the topic of Agent Orange. Use of primary sources from newspaper and journal articles, Congressional records, scientific studies, and press releases and some secondary literature by scholars from multiple disciplines builds a picture of the ongoing debate of Agent Orange and its two component herbicides from circa 1940 to 1991. Within this paper are four primary focuses, divided into three parts. First, the Congressional discussions prior to 1970 of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T, the two herbicides that comprise Agent Orange. Second and third, discussed in the same section, the involvement of the scientific community and the ratification of the Geneva Protocol. Lastly, the movement after the Vietnam War for veteran benefits due to Agent Orange exposure.

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) has a long history of human use. Early in the 20th century, some predicted hemp would be the first billion dollar crop given its multiple industrial applications. Government policy that restricted, then prohibited, hemp's use in the U.S. prevented that from happening. A reawakening to the versatility and usefulness of hemp for products ranging from engineering fibers and textiles to food and health products has developed over the last 30 years. Hemp-based products are thriving on the market for public demand. In Virginia, passage of legislation in 2017 made hemp a legal cash crop. Appropriate management decisions rely on information available from researchers. However, very few data on hemp production are available for this region. Hemp varieties may differ in part due to the broad range of latitude associated with their source of origin (e.g., from Italy to Finland in Europe) and thus the plant's differential responses to light and temperature regimes. Thus, a factor such as varietal response to soil temperature at germination could be an important variable for successful establishment, which is critical to crop productivity. Stand establishment, in turn, may be affected by factors such as germination temperature, which has implications for planting date. Along with establishment, few data have been published regarding hemp's tolerance to different herbicides. To date, the only published studies from the Southern region of the United States regarding hemp production in response to herbicide treatments were conducted in Kentucky. Generating basic information on hemp response to temperature for germination and tolerance to herbicides will be important step for developing a suite of useful agronomic practices that support the incorporation of hemp into Virginia cropping systems. The hemp industry's development in Virginia is still in its early stages, and the research described here focused on questions related to germination temperature and herbicide tolerance will help to improve our understanding of and determine suitable agronomic practices for the crop We thus designed experiments to test the following null hypotheses: Industrial hemp will not differ in germination response to temperatures, regardless of source of origin. Industrial hemp will not differ in measures of visible injury, yield, and growth in response to preemergent or postemergent herbicide treatments. / Master of Science / Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) has a long history of human use. Early in the 20th century, some predicted hemp would be the first billion dollar crop given its multiple industrial applications. Government policy that restricted, then prohibited, hemp’s use in the U.S. prevented that from happening. A reawakening to the versatility and usefulness of hemp for products ranging from engineering fibers and textiles to food and health products has developed over the last 30 years. Hemp-based products are thriving on the market for public demand. In Virginia, passage of legislation in 2017 made hemp a legal cash crop. Appropriate management decisions rely on information available from researchers. However, very few data on hemp production are available for this region. Hemp varieties may differ in part due to the broad range of latitude associated with their source of origin (e.g., from Italy to Finland in Europe) and thus the plant’s differential responses to light and temperature regimes. Thus, a factor such as varietal response to soil temperature at germination could be an important variable for successful establishment, which is critical to crop productivity. Stand establishment, in turn, may be affected by factors such as germination temperature, which has implications for planting date. Along with establishment, few data have been published regarding hemp’s tolerance to different herbicides. To date, the only published studies from the Southern region of the United States regarding hemp production in response to herbicide treatments were conducted in Kentucky. Generating basic information on hemp response to temperature for germination and tolerance to herbicides will be important step for developing a suite of useful agronomic practices that support the incorporation of hemp into Virginia cropping systems. The hemp industry’s development in Virginia is still in its early stages, and the research described here – focused on questions related to germination temperature and herbicide tolerance – will help to improve our understanding of and determine suitable agronomic practices for the crop We thus designed experiments to test the following null hypotheses: Industrial hemp will not differ in germination response to temperatures, regardless of source of origin. Industrial hemp will not differ in measures of visible injury, yield, and growth in response to preemergent or postemergent herbicide treatments.

As 2-acil-cicloexano-1,3-dionas naturais são de ocorrência bastante restrita, sendo relatadas somente em dois gêneros de plantas (Peperomia, Philodendron e Virola) e em insetos das ordens Lepidoptera e Hymenoptera, tendo sido detectadas atividades citotóxica e cairomonal. Foram sintetizados 77 policetídeos da classe das 2-acil-cicloexano-1,3-dionas (36 inéditos) que foram ensaiados quanto à atividade citotóxica em três linhagens de células leucêmicas (K562, Nalm6 e Raji) e também como inibidores da enzima 4-hidroxifenilpiruvato dioxigenase (HPPD), importante alvo para a atividade herbicida. Por meio da análise de relação entre a estrutura e atividade (REA), foi possível determinar os principais requisitos estruturais para as atividades estudadas. A previsão das atividades citotóxicas e de inibição da enzima HPPD das 2-acil-cicloexano-1,3-dionas sintetizadas, foram baseadas em duas metodologias estatísticas (Regressão linear Múltipla (MLR) e Análise Discriminante utilizando mínimos quadrados parciais (PLS-DA)) que foram utilizadas para a construção de modelos quantitativos e qualitativos de previsão. No modelo de regressão linear múltipla (MLR) obteve-se modelos quantitativos que explicam acima de 80% das variâncias das atividades estudadas, com taxas de acertos superiores a 85% na validação externa. Em relação aos modelos de classificação obtidos através do método PLS-DA, foi possível classificar as substâncias como ativas ou inativas, com taxas de acertos superiores a 80% em todos os modelos criados. As características mais importantes para a atividade de inibição da enzima HPPD foi o tamanho da cadeia lateral e a presença do grupo enólico (4a, 5a, 5d e 5e). Para a atividade citotóxica, na série alifática, a cadeia lateral com 9-11 carbonos (4e, 5a e 6a) apresentou melhores índices de inibição e na série aromática as substâncias com a presença de uma insaturação (8a, 11c e 14a) e grupos retiradores no anel aromático (16a, 17c e 19a) foram ativas. / The natural 2-acyl-cyclohexane-1,3-diones have quite restricted occurrence, being reported from only two plant genera (Peperomia, Philodendron and Virola) and from two insects orders, Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera, in which cytotoxic and kairomonal activities were reported. The 77 polyketides of 2-acyl-cyclohexane-1,3-diones type synthesized (36 novel) were tested for cytotoxic activity against three leukemia cells lines (K562, Nalm6 and Raji), and as inhibitors of 4-hydroxyphenyl pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) enzyme, an important target for herbicidal activity. The analysis of structure and activity relationship (SAR) revealed the main structural requirements for the activities studied to predict the cytotoxic activity and inhibition of HPPD enzyme of 2-acyl-cyclohexane-1,3-diones. Two statistical methods (Linear Multiple Regression (MLR) and Discriminant Analysis using partial least squares (PLS-DA)) were used for the construction of quantitative and qualitative prediction models. In the multiple linear regression model (MLR), quantitative models explained more than 80% of the variance of the activity, with hit rates higher than 85% in the external validation. In the classification models obtained from the PLS-DA method, the compounds were divided as active or inactive, with hit rates above 80% in all the models generated. The most important characteristics for the inhibition of the activity of the enzyme HPPD were the size of the side chain and the presence of the enolic group (4a, 5a, 5d e 5e). For the cytotoxic activity in the aliphatic series, the side chain with 9-11 carbons (4e, 5a e 6a) showed higher inhibition indices, while for aromatic series conjugation with a double bond (8a, 11c e 14a) and withdrawing groups in the aromatic ring (16a, 17c e 19a) presented higher activity.

As 2-acil-cicloexano-1,3-dionas naturais são de ocorrência bastante restrita, sendo relatadas somente em dois gêneros de plantas (Peperomia, Philodendron e Virola) e em insetos das ordens Lepidoptera e Hymenoptera, tendo sido detectadas atividades citotóxica e cairomonal. Foram sintetizados 77 policetídeos da classe das 2-acil-cicloexano-1,3-dionas (36 inéditos) que foram ensaiados quanto à atividade citotóxica em três linhagens de células leucêmicas (K562, Nalm6 e Raji) e também como inibidores da enzima 4-hidroxifenilpiruvato dioxigenase (HPPD), importante alvo para a atividade herbicida. Por meio da análise de relação entre a estrutura e atividade (REA), foi possível determinar os principais requisitos estruturais para as atividades estudadas. A previsão das atividades citotóxicas e de inibição da enzima HPPD das 2-acil-cicloexano-1,3-dionas sintetizadas, foram baseadas em duas metodologias estatísticas (Regressão linear Múltipla (MLR) e Análise Discriminante utilizando mínimos quadrados parciais (PLS-DA)) que foram utilizadas para a construção de modelos quantitativos e qualitativos de previsão. No modelo de regressão linear múltipla (MLR) obteve-se modelos quantitativos que explicam acima de 80% das variâncias das atividades estudadas, com taxas de acertos superiores a 85% na validação externa. Em relação aos modelos de classificação obtidos através do método PLS-DA, foi possível classificar as substâncias como ativas ou inativas, com taxas de acertos superiores a 80% em todos os modelos criados. As características mais importantes para a atividade de inibição da enzima HPPD foi o tamanho da cadeia lateral e a presença do grupo enólico (4a, 5a, 5d e 5e). Para a atividade citotóxica, na série alifática, a cadeia lateral com 9-11 carbonos (4e, 5a e 6a) apresentou melhores índices de inibição e na série aromática as substâncias com a presença de uma insaturação (8a, 11c e 14a) e grupos retiradores no anel aromático (16a, 17c e 19a) foram ativas. / The natural 2-acyl-cyclohexane-1,3-diones have quite restricted occurrence, being reported from only two plant genera (Peperomia, Philodendron and Virola) and from two insects orders, Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera, in which cytotoxic and kairomonal activities were reported. The 77 polyketides of 2-acyl-cyclohexane-1,3-diones type synthesized (36 novel) were tested for cytotoxic activity against three leukemia cells lines (K562, Nalm6 and Raji), and as inhibitors of 4-hydroxyphenyl pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) enzyme, an important target for herbicidal activity. The analysis of structure and activity relationship (SAR) revealed the main structural requirements for the activities studied to predict the cytotoxic activity and inhibition of HPPD enzyme of 2-acyl-cyclohexane-1,3-diones. Two statistical methods (Linear Multiple Regression (MLR) and Discriminant Analysis using partial least squares (PLS-DA)) were used for the construction of quantitative and qualitative prediction models. In the multiple linear regression model (MLR), quantitative models explained more than 80% of the variance of the activity, with hit rates higher than 85% in the external validation. In the classification models obtained from the PLS-DA method, the compounds were divided as active or inactive, with hit rates above 80% in all the models generated. The most important characteristics for the inhibition of the activity of the enzyme HPPD were the size of the side chain and the presence of the enolic group (4a, 5a, 5d e 5e). For the cytotoxic activity in the aliphatic series, the side chain with 9-11 carbons (4e, 5a e 6a) showed higher inhibition indices, while for aromatic series conjugation with a double bond (8a, 11c e 14a) and withdrawing groups in the aromatic ring (16a, 17c e 19a) presented higher activity.

<p> Chameleon plant (<em>Houttuynia cordata</em> Thunb.) is native to Southern and Southeastern Asia. It can reproduce sexually through seeds and asexually through rhizomes and is invasive in multiple countries including the U.S. There has been much research on <em>H. cordata</em> as a medicinal species, and its potential as an invasive species is well documented. However, its herbicidal resistance has not previously been quantified. The objective of this study is to assess <em>H. cordata’s </em>resistance to herbicides. This study consisted of two rounds of tests to examine the resistance of <em>H. cordata</em> plants to three commonly used herbicides: SpeedZone, Weed-B-Gon, and Roundup. Two concentrations of each herbicide were used during each trial in the study: the recommended concentration and twice the recommended concentration. Herbicide treatments were applied outside the greenhouse. Herbicides were sprayed uniformly on the plants until the herbicide was dripping off the leaves. The growth of the treated plants was then monitored in the greenhouse. The herbicides generally reduced growth of the plants temporarily. However, plant extermination was not achieved. Plant samples from all herbicidal treatments regrew from rhizomes after all herbicide treatments. Results from the study showed that <em>H. cordata </em>could not be controlled by the recommended concentrations of herbicides commercially available for horticultural uses in the U.S. Doubling the recommended herbicide concentration was also ineffective in exterminating <em>H. cordata </em>plants. This research clearly showed that <em>H. cordata</em> has the potential to become a highly invasive species with the potential to negatively affect the ecological integrity of many communities in the U.S.</p>

[ES] Las preocupaciones ambientales y de salud han estimulado el interés en estrategias alternativas para el manejo de las malas hierbas. En todo el mundo se están haciendo esfuerzos para reducir la gran dependencia de los herbicidas sintéticos que se utilizan como principal método para el control de las plantas arvenses. Los herbicidas naturales basados en sustancias alelopáticas, como los aceites esenciales (AEs) extraídos de plantas, se han sugerido como una de las posibles alternativas para lograr un manejo sostenible de las arvenses. Por un lado, los AEs han mostrado capacidad para inhibir la germinación y el crecimiento de semillas de malas hierbas, por otro lado, hay una falta de estudios sobre los efectos de tales sustancias sobre los microorganismos del suelo. Por lo tanto, en esta tesis se ha investigado la actividad fitotóxica y herbicida de los AEs extraídos de plantas mediterráneas para determinar su potencial como herbicidas naturales. Se han ensayado los efectos de AEs, así como de otros extractos de plantas como hidrolatos, extractos acuosos y hojas frescas obtenidas de plantas mediterráneas, sobre los microorganismos del suelo. Las especies donadoras de AEs fueron seleccionadas en base a conocimientos previos del grupo de investigación, y de acuerdo con la bibliografía existente sobre la actividad herbicida de metabolitos secundarios de estas especies o de especies que están taxonómicamente estrechamente relacionadas: Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., Eucalyptus occidentalis Endl., Eucalyptus globulus Labill., Eucalyptus torquata Luehm., Eucalyptus lesoufii Maiden, Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav., Mentha × piperita L. y Santolina chamaecyparissus L. Como malas hierbas objetivo se seleccionaron dos monocotiledóneas, Avena fatua L. y Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv. y dos dicotiledóneas, Portulaca oleracea L. y Amaranthus retroflexus L. La composición de los AEs se analizó mediante Cromatografía de gases (CG) y Cromatografía de gases-Espectrometría de masas (CG-EM). Los ensayos in vitro se realizaron en cámaras de germinación, para evaluar los efectos fitotóxicos de los AEs sobre la germinación y el crecimiento de las plántulas. Los ensayos in vivo se realizaron en condiciones de invernadero, los AEs se aplicaron emulsionados con Fitoil mediante riego. El estudio de los efectos sobre los microorganismos del suelo se realizó en el laboratorio en macetas donde los suelos se trataron con los AEs y extractos de hojas y luego se incubaron a temperatura ambiente (20-23 ° C). Los ensayos in vitro revelaron que todos los AEs mostraron efectividad contra las malas hierbas ensayadas. Entre ellos, T. capitata fue el más eficaz. A las dosis más bajas, bloqueó completamente la germinación de todas las semillas. Los ensayos en invernadero demostraron la actividad herbicida de T. capitata, M. piperita y S. chamaecyparissus, aumentando su fitotoxicidad con la dosis. T. capitata fue el AE más eficaz contra todas las malas hierbas a la dosis máxima y P. oleracea fue la especie más resistente. Los microorganismos del suelo, después de un período transitorio de agitación, generalmente recuperaron su función y biomasa iniciales. Solo el AE de T. capitata a la dosis más alta no permitió que los microorganismos del suelo recuperaran completamente su funcionalidad inicial. La aplicación de extractos de hojas al suelo proporcionó evidencia de que las hojas de eucalipto y sus extractos (AE, hidrolatos y extractos acuosos), afectaron a la comunidad microbiana del suelo de diferente modo, dependiéndose de la especie de Eucalyptus considerada. Hasta el momento, los resultados permiten sugerir la aplicación de los Aes como bioherbicidas en entornos controlados y en condiciones de invernadero. Se debe identificar la dosis óptima de aplicación para controlar las malas hierbas y simultáneamente, no afectar negativamente a los microorganismos del suelo. / [CA] Les preocupacions ambientals i de salut han estimulat l'interès per estratègies alternatives de gestió de les males herbes. A tot el món, s'estan fent esforços per reduir la gran dependència dels herbicides sintètics que s'utilitzen com a principal mètode per al control de les males herbes. Els herbicides naturals basats en substàncies al·lelopàtiques, com els olis essencials (OEs) extrets de plantes, s'han suggerit com una de les alternatives possibles per aconseguir una gestió sostenible de les males herbes. Els OEs han mostrat capacitat per inhibir la germinació i el creixement de llavors de males herbes, però per altra banda, falten estudis sobre els efectes d'aquestes substàncies sobre els microorganismes del sòl. En aquesta tesi es van investigar les activitats fitotòxiques i herbicides dels OE extrets d'herbes mediterrànies per a un ús potencial com a herbicides naturals. A més, es van provar els efectes d'aquests OE i d'altres extractes vegetals, com hidrolats, extractes aquosos i fulles fresques obtingudes d'herbes mediterrànies sobre els microorganismes del sòl. Les espècies donants d'OEs es van seleccionar bassant-se en la experiencia previa del grup d'investigació i en la bibliografía existent sobre les activitats biològiques dels metabòlits secundaris d'aquestes espècies: Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., Eucalyptus occidentalis Endl., Eucalyptus globulus Labill., Eucalyptus torquata Luehm., Eucalyptus lesoufii Maiden, Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav., Mentha × piperita L. i Santolina chamaecyparissus L. Les males herbes objectiu seleccionades van ser dos monocotiledóneas, Avena fatua L. i Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv. i dos dicotiledóneas, Portulaca oleracea L. i Amaranthus retroflexus L. La composició dels OEs es va analitzar mitjançant Cromatografia de gasos (CG) i Cromatografia de gasos-espectrometria de mases (CG-EM). Els assajos in vitro es van realitzar en cambres de germinació per avaluar els efectes dels OEs sobre la germinació i el creixement de les plàntules. Els assajos in vivo es van realitzar en condicions d'hivernacle, on es van aplicar per reg els OEs emulsionats amb Fitoil a les males herbes. L'estudi dels efectes dels OEs sobre els microorganismes del sòl es van realitzar en un experiment en tiestos en condicions de laboratori, en el qual els sòls van ser tractats amb els OEs i els extractes de fulles i després van ser incubats a temperatura ambient (20-23 ° C). Els resultats dels assaigs in vitro van revelar que tots els OE van mostrar efectivitat contra les males herbes objectiu. Entre tots ells, T. capitata va ser el més eficaç. A dosis més baixes, va bloquejar completament la germinació de tots les llavors. Els assaigs en hivernacle van demostrar l'activitat herbicida de T. capitata, M. piperita i S. chamaecyparissus, augmentant la seva fitotoxicitat amb la dosi. T. capitata va ser l'OE més eficaç contra totes les males herbes a la dosi màxima i P. oleracea va ser la mala herba més resistent. Els microorganismes del sòl, després d'un període de trastorn transitori, en general van recuperar la seva funció inicial i la seva biomassa. Només l'oli de T. capitata, a la dosi més alta no va permetre als microorganismes del sòl recuperar completament la seva funcionalitat inicial. Els resultats de l'aplicació d'extractes de fulles al sòl van demostrar que les fulles d'eucaliptus i els seus extractes (OEs, hidrolats i extractes aquosos), afecten la comunitat microbiana del sòl de diferents maneres, depenien de les espècies d'eucaliptus. Fins ara, els resultats obtinguts fan possible suggerir l'aplicació d'EOs com a bioherbicides en entorns controlats com l'horticultura i en condicions d'hivernacle, però s'ha d'identificar la dosi òptima d'aplicació per controlar les males herbes i simultàniament, no afectar negativament els microorganismes del sòl. / [EN] Environmental and health concerns caused for traditional crop protection systems have stimulated interest in alternative weed management strategies. Worldwide, efforts are being made to reduce the heavy reliance on synthetic herbicides that are used to control weeds. Natural herbicides based on allelopathic substances, such as volatile essential oils (EOs) extracted from plants, has been suggested to be one of the possible alternatives for achieving sustainable weed management. From one hand, EOs have shown ability to inhibit weeds seed germination and growth, on the other hand there is a lack of studies about the effects of such substances on soil microorganisms. Therefore, in this thesis the phytotoxic and herbicidal activities of EOs extracted from Mediterranean plants were investigated for their potential use as natural herbicides. The effects of EOs, as well as, of other plant extracts, such as hydrolates, aqueous extracts and fresh leaves obtained from Mediterranean plants, were tested on soil microorganisms. The donor species of EOs were selected based on previous experience of the research group and according to the current literature about the herbicidal activities of the secondary metabolites of these species or from species that are taxonomically closely related: Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., Eucalyptus occidentalis Endl., Eucalyptus globulus Labill., Eucalyptus torquata Luehm., Eucalyptus lesoufii Maiden, Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav., Mentha × piperita L. and Santolina chamaecyparissus L. The target weeds were two monocotyledons, Avena fatua L. and Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv, and two dicotyledons, Portulaca oleracea L. and Amaranthus retroflexus L. EOs composition was analyzed by means of Gas Chromatography (GC) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The in vitro assays were performed in germination chambers, to assess the effects of EOs on weed seed germination and seedling growth. The in vivo trials were conducted in greenhouse conditions, where EOs emulsified by Fitoil were applied on weed species by watering. The study of EOs effects on soil microorganisms was carried out in a laboratory pot experiment, where soils were treated with EOs and leaf extracts and then incubated at room temperature (20-23°C). Results obtained from the in vitro bioassays revealed that all used EOs displayed of effectiveness against assayed weeds, controlling completely their germination process or reducing it and significantly inhibiting their seedling growth. Among them, T. capitata was the most effective. At lower doses, it blocked completely the seed germination of A. retroflexus, P. olecerea, A. fatua and E. crus-galli. Greenhouse trials demonstrated herbicidal activity of T. capitata, M. piperita and S. chamaecyparissus, increasing their phytotoxicity with the dose. T. capitata was the most effective against all weeds at the maximum dose and P. oleracea was the most resistant weed. Soil microorganisms, after a transient upheaval period, induced by the addition of EOs, generally recovered their initial function and biomass. Only T. capitata EO at the highest dose did not allow soil microorganisms to completely recover their initial functionality. Results of leaf extracts application on soil provided evidence that Eucalyptus leaves and their extracts (EOs, hydrolates and aqueous extracts), affected soil microbial community in different ways, and those effects were dependent on the Eucalyptus species. So far, the results obtained make feasible to suggest EOs application as bio-herbicides in controlled environments, such as horticulture and in greenhouse conditions. However, the optimum dose of application must be determined, to control weeds and simultaneously, not negatively affect soil microorganisms. / Jouini, A. (2020). Herbicidal activity of Mediterranean essential oils and their effects on soil bioindicators [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/159914 / TESIS