Eucalypt oils for the control of Parthenium ( Parthenium hysterophorus L.)

Eucalypt oils from Eucalyptus globulus and E. citriodora exert deleterious effects on Parthenium hysterophorus — a noxious weed. The germination of the weed was inhibited and the chlorophyll content and cellular respiration of the mature plants exposed to eucalypt oils were reduced drastically. This was accompanied by increased water loss resulting in complete wilting of the plants after 15 days of exposure to volatile oils. The oil from E. citriodora was more effective in causing injury to the weed compared to E. globulus oil. Efforts should, therefore, be made to devise a strategy for controlling the weed through eucalypt oils.