Dr Agnieszka Synowiec
Établissement d'origine
Université d'Agriculture de Cracovie - PL
Laboratoire d'accueil
Hôte scientifique
Dr Christophe Hano
PROJET
Activités biologiques d’huiles essentielles
L'agriculture intensive de par son recours systématique aux composés phytosanitaires d’origine chimique a entraîné une importante pollution des sols et des eaux souterraines. Elle est également à l’origine d'une diminution significative de la biodiversité dans l'agriculture. Compte tenu de ces questions, il est urgent de trouver de nouvelles solutions pour de meilleures pratiques de lutte intégrées dans une agriculture respectueuse de l'environnement et socialement acceptable. Ce projet vise à étudier les effets biologiques d’huiles essentielles d’origine naturelle, acquises à partir de plantes sélectionnées, pour la gestion durable des insectes, pathogènes fongiques et bactériens, des mauvaises herbes et des herbivores. Ce projet implique le développement de méthodes innovantes d'application d'huiles essentielles, sous forme de préparations solides ou liquides.
Events organised by this fellow
Publications
This review article discusses the active constituents and potential of two menthol mint oils, Mentha piperita (MPEO) and Mentha arvensis (MAEO), as natural sources for botanical pesticides. The biological activities of these menthol mint oils, which can be useful in agriculture, have been broadly researched, especially toward phytotoxic microorganisms. To a lesser extent, the insecticidal and herbicidal activities of mint EOs have also been studied. It is apparent that the prospect of using menthol mint oils in agriculture is increasing in popularity. A number of investigations showed that the in vitro efficacy of MPEO and MAEO, as well as that of their main constituent, menthol, is pronounced. The results of in vitro research are useful for choosing EOs for further investigations. However, it is clear that in situ experiments are crucial and should be more extensively developed. At the same time, known techniques are to be applied to this area and new methods should be worked out, aiming at the improvement of EOs’ pesticidal efficacy and cost-effectiveness, for future implementation in agricultural pest control.
Final reports
During this fellowship I performed several greenhouse and laboratory experiments, aiming at assessing the phytotoxic and microbiological effects of microencapsulated peppermint (Mentha x piperita L.) essential oil (MPO). The different doses of MPO were applied in the pot experiments either into vermiculite or top layer of arable soils. As the acceptor-species, I used four maize cultivars, one cultivar of mustard and a weed– lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.). The microbiological analyses were performed using i) commercial strain of arbuscular fungus Rhizophagus irregularis on maize roots by intersection method, and ii) natural soil-microbiota by FDA biotest. I have found, based on the ED50 analysis, that the phytotoxic effect of MPO is both dose and species as well as soil-medium dependent. The biochemical analyses revealed, that the plants’ response to the application of MPO is typical for the allelopathic stress. The microbiological responses to the MPO applications were not clear enough to conclude and should be continued further.