Celery (Apium graveolens L.) potential in organic agriculture

Abstract

Celery (Apium graveolens L.) is a biannual plant from Apiaceae family with characteristic odor originating from essential oil. In addition to the essential oil, celery is rich in furanocoumarins which cause allergic reactions in sensitive people. However, they are potential phytotoxic compounds for the development of photobioinsecticides, especially Aedes egypti, as well as for the storage pest Tribolium confusum. In addition, celery possesses allelopathic and antimicrobial properties. As an annual plant, celery is grown for its root, leaf stalks and leaves. Although diseases and pests in celery crop are mainly fungal, viruses and bacteria, phytoplasmas, nematodes and leaf miners have also been registered.

Celer (Apium graveolens L.) je dvogodišnja biljka iz familije Apiaceae koja ima svojstven aromatični miris koji potiče od etarskog ulja. Pored etarskog ulja celer je bogat i furanokumarinima koji izazivaju alergije kod osetljivih ljudi, ali su i potencijalne komponente za razvoj foto bioinsekticida, posebno u suzbijanju Aedes egypti, ali i skladišne štetočine Tribolium confusum. Takođe, celer poseduje i alelopatske osobine kao i antimikrobne. Iako je botanički dvogodišnja biljka, kao jednogodišnja se gaji za proizvodnju zadebljalog korena, lisnih drški i listova. Bolesti i štetočine koje se javljaju u usevu celera su najčešće gljivične, ali registrovani su i virusi, bakterije, fitoplazma, nematode i lisni mineri.