Chemical study of neglected Byrsonima species and their application as a sustainable herbicide

• Grant number: 24/21923-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Miriam Sannomiya
• Grantee: Gabriel Sardinho Greggio
• Host Institution: Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades (EACH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Weeds are invasive species that harm other plants of interest to humans, causing socio-economichuman interest, causing socio-economic impacts as they can disrupt activities such as agriculture and food production. To control these pests, agrochemicals called pesticides, the main one being glyphosate. However, this is harmful to the environment, accumulating in bodies of water and having consequences for human health.consequences for human health. Allelopathy, a natural phenomenon that consists of themost of the time negative interaction between plants and each other, can be an important source of important source of resources for combating weeds. Therefore, this work seeks to study the chemistry of two hitherto unstudied Cerrado species, Byrsonima verbascifolia and Byrsonima sericea through HPLC-MS experiments. This arsenal of molecules with allelopathic potential could culminate in a sustainable alternative for combating weeds,studied through phytotoxicity tests with Bidens pilosa and Brachiaria decumbens and ecotoxicity tests with Artemia saliva.