Testing Eruca sativa defatted seed meal as a potential bioherbicide on selected weeds and crops

Exploiting typical allelopathic molecules released from the glucosinolate-myrosinase system could represent a sustainable strategy for weed management in the near future. The present study investigates the potential bioherbicidal efficacy of Eruca sativa cv. Nemat defatted seed meals (EDSM) in two independent experiments: the first one explored air release of volatile compounds (biofumigation), and the second one focused on the effectiveness of soluble compounds (soaking). Each experiment was carried out using two weed species – Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. (milk thistle) and Malva sylvestris L. (mallow) – and two crops frequently cultivated in the Mediterranean basin – Cynara cardunculus L. (cardoon) and Eruca sativa cv. Nemat (rocket) – as targets. The results suggested a new high-value application of EDSM with both methods on both weeds. Mallow was mainly injured by soaking, while milk thistle was mainly affected by biofumigation. An auto-toxic effect of EDSM was also noted on rocket seeds.