How does leaf age affect performance? A comparative study of essential oils from young and mature Eucalyptus globulus leaves in crop protection
Author(s)
Date Issued
April 24, 2026
Type
article
ISSN
1526-498X
1526-4998
Journal
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Essential oils (EOs) from
Eucalyptus globulus
Labill. leaves are widely recognized for their biological properties. However, the influence of leaf age on EOs chemical composition and bioactivity remains unclear. This study aimed to characterize the chemical profiles and biopesticidal potential of EOs extracted from juvenile leaves from young trees (YEEO) and adult leaves from mature trees (AEEO) against relevant agricultural pests and pathogens.
RESULTS
Metabolomic profiling revealed similar overall compound diversity between YEEO and AEEO. YEEO contained higher levels of α‐pinene and β‐pinene, whereas AEEO was richer in oxygenated compounds, such as 1,8‐cineole and trans‐pinocarveol. Herbicidal activity was tested against
Portulaca oleracea
and
Solanum nigrum
in pre‐ and post‐emergent assays, showing strong post‐emergent effects with 100% mortality at the highest concentrations. Both EOs also displayed dose‐dependent antibacterial activity, with
Clavibacter michiganensis
subsp.
michiganensis
being the most susceptible, followed by
Xanthomonas euvesicatoria
and
Pseudomonas syringae
pv.
tomato
. No antifungal activity was observed against
Alternaria alternata
or
Botrytis cinerea
, but both EOs exhibited potent insecticidal activity against
Phthorimaea absoluta
larvae, achieving total mortality at the highest concentration (50% v/v) and low LC₅₀ (15.2% v/v for YEEO and 14% v/v for AEEO) and LC₉₀ values (41.4% v/v for YEEO and 38.5% v/v for AEEO).
CONCLUSION
Despite their chemical differences, YEEO and AEEO showed comparable herbicidal, antibacterial, and insecticidal effects, highlighting the feasibility of large‐scale EO production, especially by valorizing adult leaves, a by‐product of the paper and furniture industries. These findings highlight the potential of
E. globulus
EOs as bioactive agents against weeds, insects, and bacteria; however, further field studies are required to evaluate their practical applicability. © 2026 The Author(s).
Pest Management Science
published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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