Specific and total activities of the allelochemicals identified in buckwheat

The various organs of the Polish cultivars of buckwheat were evaluated for their flavonoid content (rutin, quercetin, (+)-catechin, and (−)-epicatechin) and for their phenolic acid content (chlorogenic, caffeic, ferulic, and gallic acids) to test their contribution to buckwheat allelopathic activity. The main compound found in the above-ground organs of buckwheat was rutin, followed by chlorogenic acid, and then (−)-epicatechin. The allelopathic activity, based on the specific activity of the identified compounds on lettuce seedling growth, was evaluated. Gallic acid had the highest specific activity and quercetin had the lowest. The specific activity of rutin was at the medium level compared to the other examined compounds, but as a consequence of its high concentration, its total activity was very high. The growth inhibitory effects of the aqueous extracts of the buckwheat leaves and inflorescences were higher than that of the stems. The higher inhibitory activity of the extracts compared to the leaves and inflorescences was explained by the high presence of rutin in them. Therefore, based on the total activity, as calculated by its concentration and its growth inhibitory effect, it seems that rutin, among the other tested compounds, is the major allelochemical in Polish buckwheat.     

Plant growth inhibitory activity of Lycoris radiata Herb. and the possible involvement of lycorine as an allelochemical

Lycoris radiata Herb., a common medicinal plant of Far East Asia, was examined for its potential use in paddy weed control. The preliminary screening in greenhouse conditions indicated growth inhibitory activities. The emergence, root and shoot growth, and root dry weight of the bioassay species were reduced when grown in soil mixed with the leaves of L. radiata . Aqueous extracts of the fresh leaves at various concentrations inhibited the root and shoot growth of all tested plant species. To identify the active components, L. radiata ethanolic extract was subjected to bioassay-guided fractionation, purification, and spectroscopic analysis. This process led to the isolation of lycorine as a potential allelochemical. The concentration of lycorine in the dry leaves of L. radiata is estimated to be 0.08%. It is possible that lycorine is exuded from the roots or leaches from the living or decomposing leaves, along with other numerous inhibitors, and inhibits the growth of neighboring or successional plants. These results suggest that L. radiata has the potential to inhibit plant growth and lycorine acts as one of the most important plant growth inhibitors. This plant can be grown as a ground cover plant and its dead leaves could be applied as cover mulch.     

Assessment of the allelopathic potential of 17 Iranian barley cultivars in different development stages and their variations over 60 years of selection

Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the allelopathic potential of 17 Iranian barley cultivars in four development stages and their variations over the last 60 years of collection. Imbibed seeds and water leachates that were extracted from the barley plants at the seedling, tillering, stem elongation, and heading stages were used for the bioassays, including filter paper, neighboring barley seeds in soil, and soil mixed with dried barley residues. The experiments were conducted with the use of wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis) as the test plant. The Germination Rate Index (GRI) and emergence of S. arvensis were inhibited on both the filter paper and soil. The highest inhibitory effect was seen with the tillering stage's water leachate on filter paper. The GRI decreased in response to the increased density of barley imbibed seeds. The germination was less affected by the presence of barley seeds from the soil than those from the filter paper. The GRI of S. arvensis seeds was lower in the older than in the recently developed cultivars. Although there were some fluctuations in the GRI value with time, the germination inhibitory effect has decreased as new, higher‐yielding cultivars have been released.     

银胶菊的花对稗草的化感作用及其化感物质分离与鉴定

为明确银胶菊的花组织对稗草的化感作用及其活性物质成分,采用培养皿法和室内盆栽法,研究了其水浸提液的乙酸乙酯相、正丁醇相和剩余水相对稗草生长的影响。结果表明,乙酸乙酯相的化感抑制活性最高,其中,温室盆栽试验中对稗草萌发、株高、鲜重的抑制率分别为11.1%、10.2%和14.6%。采用GC-MS技术,从乙酸乙酯相较高活性组分中分离鉴定了15种主要化合物,分别为烃类及其衍生物、萘类、醇类、苯类、酸类、酮类和酯类。