INHIBITION OF GERMINATION AND GROWTH BY VOLATILES OF MICROMERIA FRUTICOSA

Growth and development of a number of crop plants and weed were shown to be inhibited by other species, which released inhibitory substances. This phenomena is referred to as allelopathy (Rice 1984, Putnam 1986). Evidences of allelopathy by aromatic plants has been accumulating for years (Muller 1964). It seems that there is a potential for the use of allelochemicals from plants as a source of natural substances for weed control (Putnam 1988).

We examined the allelopatic potential of some essential oils from several aromatic species indigenous to the eastern mediteraneane area. In preliminry experiments the effect of essential oils from various aromtic plants native to Israel were tested. One of the most effective essential oil was from M. fruticosa.