title: Molecular and structural changes induced by essential oils treatments in Vicia faba roots detected by genotoxicity testing.
abstract: Over the last few years, there has been an increased interest in exploiting allelopathy in organic agriculture. The aim of this investigation was to examine the effects of essential oil mixtures in order to establish their allelopathic use in agriculture. Two mixtures of essential oils consisting respectively of tea tree oil (TTO) and clove plus rosemary (C + R) oils were tested. Phytotoxicity and genotoxicity tests on the root meristems of Vicia faba minor were performed. A phytotoxic influence was particularly relevant for C + R mixture, while genotoxicity tests revealed significant results with both C + R oil mixture and TTO. Phenotypic analysis on Vicia faba minor primary roots following C + R oil mixture treatment resulted in callose production, an early symptom attributed to lipid peroxidation. The approach described in this study, based on genotoxicity bioassays, might identify specific DNA damage induced by essential oil treatments. These tests may represent a powerful method to evaluate potential adverse effects of different mixtures of essential oils that might be useful in alternative agriculture. Future studies are focusing on the positive synergism of more complex mixtures of essential oils in order to reduce concentrations of potentially toxic components while at the same time maintaining efficacy in antimicrobial and antifungal management.
authors.affiliation: a Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), Department of Technological Innovation and Safety of Plants , Product and Anthropic Settlements (DIT) , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sturchio
authors.affiliation: a Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), Department of Technological Innovation and Safety of Plants , Product and Anthropic Settlements (DIT) , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Priscilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boccia
authors.affiliation: a Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), Department of Technological Innovation and Safety of Plants , Product and Anthropic Settlements (DIT) , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zanellato
authors.affiliation: a Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), Department of Technological Innovation and Safety of Plants , Product and Anthropic Settlements (DIT) , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meconi
authors.affiliation: b Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi dell'Economia Agraria , Centro di Ricerca per la Patologia Vegetale (CREA-PAV) , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Donnarumma
authors.affiliation: c Italian Red Cross-Army Corps-Central Laboratory , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mercurio
authors.affiliation: d Laboratory of Chemometrics and Environmental Applications (ISPRA) , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mecozzi
mesh_terms: D045783:Clove Oil / Q000633:toxicity*; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000633:toxicity*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D020947:Tea Tree Oil / Q000633:toxicity*; D031307:Vicia faba / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D045783:Clove Oil; D009153:Mutagens; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D020947:Tea Tree Oil; C053775:rosemary oil