Evaluation of herbicidal activities of plant allelochemical, 2, 4-di-tert-butylphenol for natural herbicide development

Abstract

Herbicides are commonly used to control infestation of weeds. However, excessive use of single herbicide can cause the development of herbicide resistance in weeds, human health concern and pollution. This study aimed to evaluate herbicidal activity of 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol (2,4-DTBP) and to determine tolerance level of selected crops species to 2,4-DTBP under laboratory and glasshouse conditions. Laboratory bioassay showed that leaf discs of Leptochloa chinensis, Eleusine indica, Hedyotis verticillata and Asystasia gangetica turned dark brown within two days after 2,4-DTBP treatment at 500 mg/L. Further evaluation revealed, post emergence application rate of 7 kg ai/ha caused the seedling growth inhibition of bioassay plants by 15-40 % only under glasshouse conditions, suggesting that 2,4-DTBP has poor post emergence herbicidal activity.