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Abstract

Invasive plant species cause significant agricultural losses and are commonly controlled using chemical herbicides, which may pose risks to environmental and human health. Therefore, environmentally friendly alternatives such as plant-based bioherbicides have gained increasing attention. This study investigated the effects of different light spectra on secondary metabolite production and bioherbicidal activity of Mentha spicata. Plants were cultivated under blue, green, red, and white light conditions to evaluate changes in chlorophyll content, antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT, SOD, and APX), and essential oil yield. Essential oils obtained from M. spicata were subsequently applied to Chenopodium album to evaluate herbicidal potential, while possible effects on the crop plant Allium cepa were also examined. The results demonstrated that blue light significantly increased chlorophyll content and essential oil production compared to other light treatments. Increased essential oil production was associated with enhanced bioherbicidal effects on C. album, while no significant negative effects were observed on A. cepa. These findings indicate that manipulation of light spectra can enhance secondary metabolite production in M. spicata and may improve the efficiency of plant-based bioherbicides as sustainable alternatives to chemical herbicides.

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