Tunisian Pine Essential Oils: Chemical Composition, Herbicidal and Antifungal Properties

The development of resistance against commercialized antifungal and herbicides encourages researchers to focus on the development of new natural products based on essential oils (EOs) with herbicidal and antifungal properties. This study aims to analyze the chemical compositions and evaluate the herbicidal and antifungal activities of cones essential oil of three Pine Tunisian species. EOs composition was carried out by GC and GC/MS analysis. Phytotoxic effects of EOs was evaluated against the germination and growth of two weeds (Phalaris canariensis and Sinapis arvensis) and Triticum durum as cultivated specie. Antifungal assays were evaluated against five fungal strains (Bipolaris sorokiniana, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium graminarium, Fusarium avenaceum and Fusarium culmorum). Our results showed that pines EOs are characterized by their richness in monoterpenes hydrocarbons (51.71-78.33%) with different dominant constituents. Limonene (3.21-46.56%), alpha-pinene (28.15-34.52%), and beta-pinene (0.95-9.34%) were the major compounds in analyzed EOs. Tested oils were effective against weeds, cultivated specie and target fungi in relation to their variable compositions. All EOs studied showed a significant phytotoxic effects and Pinus pinea exhibited the highest herbicidal effects against all tested weeds. In addition, the highest fungi toxic properties have been marked by P. pinea and P. nigra EOs. Obtained data found that the interspecific variability results in a variability of the chemical composition of pine EOs as well as their biological activities.

Automated summary

This study analyzed the chemical compositions and evaluated the herbicidal and antifungal activities of essential oils from three Pine Tunisian species. The results showed that these oils were effective against weeds, cultivated species, and target fungi, indicating their potential as natural alternatives to commercial antifungal and herbicides.