Allelopathic Weed Management in Wheat (triticum Aestivum L.) Through Essential Oil Emulsions and Aqueous Botanical Extracts-Based Novel Bioherbicides

Phytotoxic activity of essential oil emulsions (EOEs) of aromatic plants such as Mentha piperita, Pelargonium graveolens, Matricaria chamomilla, Chrysopogon zizanioides, Pogostemon patchouli, Mentha arvensis, and aqueous extracts of Andrographis paniculata were evaluated for problematic weeds like Avena fatua and Phalaris minor, along with wheat (Triticum aestivum) as a test crop through laboratory bioassay studies during 2020–2021. The chemical composition of essential oils was analyzed through GC/GC–MS. Results of the laboratory bioassay revealed that EOEs of M. piperita, C. zizanioides, M. arvensis, and an aqueous extract of A. paniculata as pre-emergence bioherbicides strongly inhibited germination and seedling growth of the tested weed species in a dose dependent manner, with P. minor and A. fatua being selectively more sensitive than T. aestivum. Percent seed germination varied between treatments, ranging from 3.45–48.28