RT Journal Article T1 Mentha suaveolens as allelopathic biomass for weed control: phenolics, organic acids, and volatile organic compounds profiles A1 González Puig, Carolina Beatriz A1 Álvarez-Iglesias, Lorena A1 Pardo Muras, María A1 Andrade, Paula B. A1 Pedrol Bonjoch, María Nuria K1 3101.06 Herbicidas AB The need to find alternatives to synthetic herbicides has led to the evaluation of the use of allelopathic biomass from different agroforestry species as soil amendments for weed control. Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. (apple mint) could be a suitable candidate as an ecoherbicide due to its availability in the agroecosystem, well-studied biological activities, and known chemical composition. For the present study, two greenhouse pot experiments were conducted by incorporating flowering aerial biomass of apple mint into the soil. In the first one, the potential phytotoxic effects of M. suaveolens at doses 1 and 2% were evaluated on the germination and growth of maize and its accompanying weeds. In a second temporary assay, the duration of phytotoxicity and the effects of apple mint (0.5% dose) on the physicochemical properties of the soil were elucidated. The soluble (phenolics and organic acids) and volatile compounds potentially releasable from the allelopathic biomass were identified. The apple mint exerted adverse effects on the germination and growth of dicotyledonous weed species, especially Amaranthus retroflexus and Solanum nigrum, with almost 100% inhibition, as well as on the growth of monocotyledonous weeds such as Digitaria sanguinalis, with a reduction of more than 95%. On the contrary, maize yield and soil properties pH, CECe, organic matter, and exchangeable cations were improved by the ecoherbicide. Chemical analyses of apple mint aerial biomass revealed the presence of 7 phenolic compounds, 9 organic acids, and 32 volatiles. For this study, the effects of incorporating M. suaveolens aerial biomass into soil were evaluated for the first time, and it was demonstrated that it has potential as an eco-friendly plant-based tool for Integrated Weed Management. PB Agronomy SN 20734395 YR 2023 FD 2023-11-10 LK http://hdl.handle.net/11093/6482 UL http://hdl.handle.net/11093/6482 LA eng NO Agronomy, 13(11): 2793 (2023) NO Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. PID2019-111253RB-I00 DS Investigo RD 24-mar-2025