1. Investigating the use of aquatic weeds as biopesticides towards promoting sustainable agriculture
- Author
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Yuting Fu, Philippe Rott, Jehangir H. Bhadha, Ramdas Kanissery, Julien M. Beuzelin, University of North Florida [Jacksonville] (UNF), Biologie et Génétique des Interactions Plante-Parasite (UMR BGPI), Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (Cirad)-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro), Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Département Systèmes Biologiques (Cirad-BIOS), and Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (Cirad)
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,Eichhornia crassipes ,H01 - Protection des végétaux - Considérations générales ,Life Cycles ,Leaves ,Insecticides ,Physiology ,[SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio] ,Plant Weeds ,Plant Science ,H60 - Mauvaises herbes et désherbage ,Plant Reproduction ,01 natural sciences ,Mauvaise herbe aquatique ,Larvae ,Seed Germination ,Vegetables ,Agriculture durable ,Flowering Plants ,Soil Microbiology ,2. Zero hunger ,Plant Growth and Development ,Multidisciplinary ,biology ,Organic Compounds ,Plant Anatomy ,Hydrilla ,Eukaryota ,food and beverages ,Agriculture ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,Plants ,Lettuce ,6. Clean water ,Anti-Bacterial Agents ,Chemistry ,Root Growth ,Biological Control Agents ,Eichhornia ,Plant Physiology ,Physical Sciences ,Hydrilla verticillata ,Medicine ,Soil microbiology ,Research Article ,Pistia stratiotes ,Algae ,Science ,Hydrocharitaceae ,Spodoptera ,Cyanobacteria ,Pistia ,Animals ,Allelopathy ,Lemna minor ,Ethanol ,Bacteria ,Organic Chemistry ,Organisms ,Chemical Compounds ,Biology and Life Sciences ,15. Life on land ,biology.organism_classification ,010602 entomology ,Biopesticide ,Agronomy ,Alcohols ,040103 agronomy & agriculture ,0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries ,Weeds ,Weed ,Developmental Biology - Abstract
Aquatic weeds such as muskgrass (Chara spp.), water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes), hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillate), filamentous algae (Lyngbya wollei), and duckweed (Lemna minor) thrive in farm canals within the Everglades Agricultural Area of South Florida. Their presence, particularly during the summer months is an environmental concern with regards to water quality, in addition to being a nuisance because of their ability to multiply and spread rapidly in open waters causing restricted drainage/irrigation flow and low dissolved oxygen levels. Chemical control is effective but can have undesirable off-target effects, so reduced herbicide use is desirable. Hence, need exists to discover ways in which these weeds could be best managed or utilized. The objective of this research was to evaluate the allelopathic effect of these weeds to determine their use as potential biopesticides. Six aqueous extracts were tested against 100 bacterial strains isolated from plants and soil to evaluate their antimicrobial activity. These extracts were also used to determine their insecticidal and antifeedant effects on fall armyworm (FAW, Spodoptera frugiperda). Both extracts and powder form of the aquatic weeds were tested for their herbicidal activity towards seed germination and growth of three common terrestrial weed species. At a dilution of 1:100 and 1:1,000, none of the aquatic weeds inhibited in-vitro growth of the bacterial strains, with one exception (filamentous algae extract at 1:100 reduced growth of one bacterial isolate by 54%). Water lettuce reduced the survival rate of FAW by 14% while hydrilla and duckweed caused 11% and 9% reduction of FAW growth, respectively. Powdered duckweed inhibited the growth of nutsedge by 41%, whereas filamentous algae powder and extract reduced germination of amaranth by 20% and 28%, respectively. Harvesting these weeds and converting them into useable compounds could not only eliminate the in situ farm canal and water quality problems but also result in development of new soil amendments or biopesticides.
- Published
- 2020
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