Development of bioherbicides combining essential oils and organic acids

In this abstract, we present the development and evaluation of a novel synbiotic-based bioherbicide within the European CONSERWA project, which promotes agroecological weed management strategies. The bioherbicide combines microbial and plant-derived components to reduce input of bioactive substances while maintaining or enhancing herbicidal efficacy. We screened essential oils compounds, both alone and in combination with organic acids (acetic, lactic, or citric), using germination and post-emergence tests on model weeds such as Lolium perenne. Synergistic effects were identified for several combinations. Additionally, essential oil interactions with a selected lactic acid bacterial strain were tested, showing promising results on ryegrass, clover, and mustard. Ongoing work focuses on identifying specific compound interactions underlying these synergies.