Rosemary, ext.

Toxicity to terrestrial plants

Administrative data

Endpoint:

toxicity to terrestrial plants: short-term

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Study period:

2005

Reliability:

4 (not assignable)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

secondary literature

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Insecticidal activity of selected monoterpenoids and Rosemary oil to Agriotes obscurus, (Coleoptera: Elateridae)

Author:

Waliwitiya et al.

Year:

2005

Bibliographic source:

J. Econ. Entomol. 98 (5), 1560-1565, 2005

Report date:

2005

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Corn germination and seedling development was assessed 6 days after treatment

GLP compliance:

no

Test material

Test material information

1

Reference substance name:

Rosemary, ext.

EC Number:

283-291-9

EC Name:

Rosemary, ext.

Cas Number:

84604-14-8

Molecular formula:

Not applicable for UVCB substance

IUPAC Name:

Essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) obtained from leaves, flowers and twigs by steam distillation

Test material form:

liquid

Sampling and analysis

Analytical monitoring:

no

Test substrate

Vehicle:

no

Remarks:

direct addition to seeds

Test organisms

Species:

Zea mays

Plant group:

Monocotyledonae (monocots)

Details on test organisms:

Corn seed (Pioneer brand Hybrid #39T68, Pioneer Hi-BRed Ltd)

Study design

Test type:

seedling emergence and seedling growth test

Study type:

laboratory study

Substrate type:

other: cleaned sand

Total exposure duration:

6 d

Test conditions

Test temperature:

22°C

Moisture:

To avoid drying, pots were immersed in trays with 1 cm of water every second day.

Details on test conditions:

Plastic pots (14 cm in diameter) with cleaned sand were used to test the phytotoxicity of rosemary oil to corn.
After treating seeds, they were planted 2.5 cm in depth in the sand. This experiment was conducted in the horticultural greenhouse, University of British Columbia, maintained at 22°C. To avoid drying, pots were immersed in trays with 1 cm of water every second day. Pure methanol was used as the control treatment. Germination percentage, cotyledon length and radicle length were recorded 6days post treatment. Each chemical concentration was tested on 10 corn seeds with three complete replications.

Nominal and measured concentrations:

Corn seed (Pioneer brand Hybrid #39T68, Pioneer Hi-BRed Ltd) were presoaked in water for 24h and using a micropipettor, were coated with 20 µl of the test solution (i.e. 200, 400, 800, 1600 and 3200 µg/seed).

Results and discussion

Effect concentrations

Effect concentrations 1

Species:

Zea mays

Duration:

6 d

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

3.2 other: mg/seed

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

germination

Effect concentrations 2

Species:

Zea mays

Duration:

6 d

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

3.2 other: mg/seed

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

seedling emergence

Details on results:

Differences in corn seed germination percentage, cotyledon length and radicale length were observed among the four treatments (P> 0.005) and concentrations (P> 0.0001). No phytotoxicity was observed with rosemary oil, whereas thymol, citronellal and eugenol all inhibited germination and reduced cotyledon and radical growth as concentration increased.

Reported statistics and error estimates:

For the phytotoxicity assay, ANOVA procedures were perfomed by SPSS software (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL)

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not applicable

Conclusions:

Rosemary oil did not have any phytotoxic effect up to direct application of 3200 µg/seed and this dose is therefore considered the NOEC.

Executive summary:

Rosemary oil was tested for its phytotoxicity to corn (gemination, cotyledon and radicale length) in plastic pots with cleaned sand. Corn seeds were presoaked in water for 24h and were coated with 20 µl of the test solution (i.e. 200, 400, 800, 1600 and 3200 µg/seed). After treating seeds, they were planted 2.5 cm in depth in the sand in a greenhouse, maintained at 22°C. To avoid drying, pots were immersed in trays with 1 cm of water every second day. Pure methanol was used as the control treatment. Germination percentage, cotyledon length and radicle length were recorded 6 days post treatment. Each chemical concentration was tested on 10 corn seeds with three complete replications.

Differences in corn seed germination percentage, cotyledon length and radicale length were observed among the four treatments (P> 0.005) and concentrations (P> 0.0001). No phytotoxicity was observed with rosemary oil, whereas thymol, citronellal and eugenol all inhibited germination and reduced cotyledon and radical growth as concentration increased.