Allelopathic Effects of Water Extracts of Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas) on Seed Germination of Ageratum conyzoides

Sustainable weed management strategies are essential to reduce chemical and labor inputs. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of water extracts from sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lamarck] on seed germination of Ageratum conyzoides L. under controlled conditions. The aqueous was produced from plant parts i.e., roots, stems, and leaves of sweet potato at concentrations of 0.025, 0.050, 0.075, and 0.100 g·mL-1. The results showed that the plant parts of sweet potato all contained allelopathic substances, which showed high-concentration inhibition and low-concentration promotion of seed germination of A. conyzoides. When the aqueous extract concentrations were 0.050, 0.075, and 0.100 g·mL-1, the germination of A. conyzoides seeds was inhibited, while the germination was promoted at a concentration of 0.025 g·mL-1. This shows that when the planting density of sweet potato is large, it can form an obvious prevention and control effect on A. conyzoides, and thus improve herbicide resistance management.

Cellular Growth Dynamics Affects Allelopathic Activity in Coffee Cell Culture

Cellular growth dynamics and allelopathic activity in coffee cell cultures were examined as follows: First, we compared allelopathic activity of seven woody plant calli, Coffea canephora, Derris indica, Ficus carica L., Juniperus conferta, Prunus persica, Punica granatum, and Sonneratia ovata, using a modified “sandwich method bioassay” and found that coffee callus showed the strongest growth inhibition to lettuce seedling nearly 90% of hypocotyl and 96% of root. This coffee callus actively proliferated, with a 21-fold increase during five weeks of subculture, with a growth curve comprising two typical phases: a lag phase of 0 - 2 weeks of culture and an exponential phase of 3 - 5 weeks of culture. Allelopathic activity varied depending on the growth phase of the coffee callus. The strongest allelopathic activity was detected in 1 - 2-week-old callus showing nearly 100% inhibitory effect on lettuce seedling growth. As the allelopathic activity of coffee calli is extremely high, beyond the natural level in coffee leaves and green beans, we focused on analyzing the allelopathic activity of its aqueous extracts using high-performance liquid chromatography. Several prominent peaks, including two reference alkaloids, theobromine and caffeine, which are known allelochemicals in coffee plants, and three distinct unknown peaks were identified at 270 nm in coffee calli during the lag phase (1 - 2 weeks of culture). The higher value of the total phenolic content in the lag phase also suggested a key biosynthetic pathway in relation to the allelopathic activity of coffee callus will be activated in the lag phase.

Allelopathic Effects of Aqueous Extract of Torreya fargesii Aril on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Radish, Mustard and Cabbage

[Objective] This study aimed to investigate the allelopathic effects of Torreya fargesii aril. [Method] By indoor bioassay, the effects of different con-centrations （10, 20,40, 80 g/L） of aqueous extract of T. fargesii aril on seed germination rate, seedling root length, seedling height, fresh weight, chlorophyll content, malondialdehyde （MDA） content and anti oxidative enzyme activities of radish, mustard and cabbage were analyzed and compared. [ Result] Different concentrations of aqueous extract of T. fargesii aril inhibited seed germination and seedling growth of three crops, and the inhibitory effects were enhanced with the increase of concentration. Seedling height and fresh weight of three crops were improved by low concentrations of aqueous extract of T. fargesii aril and inhibited by high concentrations of aqueous extract. Overall, aqueous extract of T. fargesii aril exhibited allelopathic inhibitory effects on three crops, and the level of allelopath-ic inhibitory effects demonstrated a descending order of radish 〉 mustard 〉 cabbage. Compared with the control group, 80 g/L aqueous extract of T. fargesii aril almost significantly reduced seed germination rate, seedling root length, seedling height, fresh weight and chlorophyll content, and significantly improved MDA con-tent and antioxidative enzyme （SOD, CAT, POD） activities of radish, mustard and cabbage （P 〈 0 .0 5 ） . [ Conclusion] Aqueous extract of T. fargesii aril exhibited remarkable allelopathic inhibitory effects on seed germination of radish, mustard and cabbage, which indicated that there might be dormancy-associated germination in-hibiting allelochemicals in T. fargesii aril. This study provided theoretical basis for subsequent clarification of the mechanism of seed dormancy of T. fargesii.

Advances of Allelopathic Autotoxicity in Rehmannia glutinosa L.

Allelopathic autotoxicity occurs when a plant releases toxic chemical substances into the environment which inhibits development and growth of the same plant species.Rehmannia glutinosa L.( R.glutinosa ) is one of the most common traditional Chinese medicines,whose productivity and quality,however,are seriously impacted by consecutive monoculture obstacle.Allelopathic autotoxicity is one reason for consecutive monoculture obstacle.In this paper,we reviewed the categories of allelochemicals,the methods of allelochemicals identification,and the mechanisms of allelopathic autotoxicity,which provides clues for further study of the molecular mechanisms of allelopathic autotoxicity and consecutive monoculture obstacle.

Research on the allelopathic potential of wheat

Objective: This paper mainly discusses the Allelopathic potential of Wheat. Methods: This paper is prepared by reviewing the latest academic literatures. Result: The green revolution in the 1960s caused an increase in the demand for food. The agricultural sector and farmers tended to spend more time on the agricultural work but the crop yield was suppressed by the weeds. Hence, the usage of herbicide insecticides, fungicides and others chemicals had been increased. Although herbicides are efficient for weed controls, the continuous uses had gradually stimulated the weeds developing an effecttive resistance to the chemicals. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is known as allelopathic against crops and weeds. Allelopathy of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) has been extensively examined for its potentials in weeds management. The allelopathic activity of wheat has been attributed to hydroxamic acids, the related compounds and phenolic acids. Therefore, it could effectively reduce herbicide uses in order to maintain an eco-friendly environment and a cost-effective weed control.

Allelopathic Effects of Cedrus deodara Needle Extracts on Seed Germination and Early Growth of Three Turfgrasses

[Objectives]This study was conducted to provide reference for plant landscaping,optimization of planting structure and rational allocation of species in Cedrus deodara gardens.[Methods]With three common garden plants in northern China,Trifolium repens L.,Poa pratensis L.and Trifolium pratense L.,as receptors,the effects of four concentrations(0.025,0.05,0.075 and 0.10 g/ml)of C.deodara needle extract on seed germination and early seedling growth of the three turfgrasses were studied by the Petri dish filter paper method,using a clear water treatment(0 g/ml)as control check(CK).Data were subjected to analysis of variance(ANOVA)and multiple comparisons(Duncan)using SPSS16.0.[Results]Different concentrations of C.deodara needle extract had significant inhibitory effects on seed germination,radicle and seedling height growth of T.repens,T.pratense and P.pratensis(P<0.05),and the inhibitory effects increased with the increase of concentration.When the concentration reached 0.075 g/ml,seed germination and seedling growth of T.repens stopped,and radicle and seedling growth of T.pratense and P.pratensis also stopped.When the concentration was equal to 0.10 g/ml,germination of T.pratense and P.pratensis seeds was inhibited,and the absolute values of allelopathic index was the largest,that is,the inhibitory effects were the largest.And with the increase of concentration,the absolute value of synthetical allelopathic index also increased.The extract of C.deodara needles contained main allelochemicals leading to the scarcity of understory vegetation.[Conclusions]This study provides a theoretical basis for reasonable garden plant configuration during C.deodara greening and garden landscaping.

Application of Box-Behnken Design in Optimization of Allelopathic Effects of Potamogeton Pectinatus Against Microcystis Aeruginosa

Allelopathic effects of submerged macrophytes against algae are affected by many environmental factors which can only be measured one by one by traditional methods. Box-Behnken design of response surface methodology was used to optimize three environmental factors(temperature, light intensity and total dissolved solids) of allelopathic effects of Potamogeton pectinatus against Microcystis aeruginosa at the same time. By solving the regression equation and analyzing the response surface contour plots, the optimal conditions of the relatively inhibitory rate of Microcystis aeruginosa were that the temperature was 23℃, the light intensity was 2,700,lx and the total dissolved solids were 4,415,mg/L. Under these conditions, the optimal value of relatively inhibitory rate of Microcystis aeruginosa was 81.9%. According to validation experiments, the results of analysis indicated that the experimental values fitted well with the predicted ones.

Allelopathic eff ects of macroalga Corallina pilulifera on the red-tide forming alga Heterosigma akashiwo under laboratory conditions

Over the past few years, harmful algal blooms(HABs), such as red tides, have been frequently observed in coastal zones worldwide. The natural allelopathic interactions among macroalgae and red tide microalgae can alter the structure and succession of aquatic ecosystems. We investigated the influence of four environmental factors(temperature, salinity, light, and p H) on the allelopathic eff ects of the macroalgae Corallina pilulifera on red-tide forming Heterosigma akashiwo under laboratory conditions. Each of the factors had four levels: temperature(15, 20, 25, and 30°C), salinity(10, 20, 30, and 40), light(20, 100, 200 and 400 μmol/(m^2 ?s)), and p H(5.5, 7, 8.5, and 10. Two-factor experiments were designed for each two environmental factors, with six combination treatments(temperature-salinity, temperature-light, temperature-p H, salinity-light, salinity-p H, and light-p H). Results showed that the allelopathic eff ect was significantly influenced by temperature, salinity, light, and p H. As single factors, the low temperature(15°C), low salinity(10), high-intensity light(400 μmol/(m^2 ?s)), and high p H(10) treatments substantially enhanced the allelopathic eff ect. The strongest allelopathic eff ect of C. pilulifera on H. akashiwo was observed under the following treatments: 15°C and salinity of 40, 25°C and p H 10, 25°C with medium- to high-intensity light at 200–400 μmol/(m^2 ?s), 400 μmol/(m^2 ?s) and salinity of 10, 400 μmol/(m^2 ?s) and p H 10, and p H 10 with a salinity of 40.

A Preliminary Study on Systems Engineering-Based Method for the Evaluation of Allelopathic Potential in Crops and Its Application

The objective of this study was to develop a method to assess and analyze the total allelopathic potential of crop germplasm and to test this method on four winter wheat accessions commonly planted in the Loess Plateau. A systems engineering model was developed and used to evaluate the total allelopathic potential of crop cultivars. In addition, a method for quantifying the total allelopathic potential in crop accessions was presented. Total allelopathic potential of four winter wheat accessions from the Loess Plateau was estimated and compared using a systems theory approach. The model assessed allelopathic potential in different parts of the plants from the time wheat turned green in spring until maturity. Results from these models indicated that the four wheat accessions had very weak allelopathic potential. Allelopathic potential declined in the order Xiaoyan 22 〉 Ningdong 1 〉 Fengchan 3 〉 Bima 1. This system engineering evaluation method allows for the assessment of allelopathic potential among crop varieties. It will help plant breeders to select and develop allelopathic crop accessions that combine weed suppression properties with agronomic traits related to yield and quality.

Fusarium solani Upregulated Sesquiterpene Synthase Expression, Sesquiterpene Production and Allelopathic Activity in Piper betle

Activators of sesquiterpene synthase(STS) gene expression and sesquiterpene production in Piper betle L. were examined using quantitative real time PCR and gas chromatography mass spectrometry methods, and the allelopathic activity of untreated and Fusarium solani-treated betel extracts was tested on seed germination and on the shoot and root growth of Thai rice variety PSL2(Oryza sativa cv. Phitsanulok 2) and three dominant paddy weeds(Eclipta prostrata, Echinochloa crus-galli and Chloris barbata). The results demonstrated that F. solani dramatically upregulated STS expression and productions of β-cubebene, β-caryophyllene and germacrene D sesquiterpene when compared with the untreated control, and that betel extracts had a greater inhibitory effect on weeds than on rice. The effects were more clearly detected on seed germination and root growth than on shoot growth, and they were found to be dose-dependent. It is also noted that F. solani-treated extract had stronger effects than the untreated extract. The species most sensitive to the allelopathic effects was C. barbata, germination of which was completely inhibited even at a dose of 0.1 mg/mL untreated extract. With regards to rice, although betel extract at 1.0 mg/mL showed no inhibition on germination, it affected the elongation of rice roots, in addition to those of the tested weeds. The obtained data suggested that F. solani has potential as an activator of sesquiterpene allelochemical production via STS expression, the latter leading to the treated betel extract having a stronger phytotoxic effect. These results were beneficial in the promotion of natural herbicide production using biotechnology.

Allelopathic potential of <i>Artemisia biennis</i>(biennial wormwood)

In this study, Artemisia biennis was seeded in a greenhouse and raised to an average plant height of 100 cm. Aboveground plant portions were harvested and partitioned into leaves and stems, and dried;while roots were either removed from some soil (soil – roots) or left in soil (soil + roots). Greenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate the allelopathic potential of A. biennis leaves, roots, and stems;and soil – roots, and soil + roots on Solanum melanocerasum plant height and fresh weight plant–1. When 5 g of root and stem biomass were added to soil, S. melanocerasum plant height and fresh weight plant–1 was reduced by 75 and 88%, respectively. In contrast, 5 g of leaf biomass caused an increase in S. melanocerasum plant height and fresh weight plant–1 by 35% and 43%, respectively;whereas, 20 g of leaf biomass depressed both variables by 50% and 65%, also respectively. Plant height was more suppressed when S. melanocerasum grew in soil – roots as opposed to soil + roots, whereas fresh weight plant–1 was similar between soil treatments. S. melanocerasum plant height was reduced by 70 and 55% when grown in soil – roots and soil + roots, respectively. In contrast, S. melanocerasum fresh weight plant–1 was reduced by 76% in both soil treatments. The reduction in S. melanocerasum plant attributes in this study is indicative of the allelopathic potential of A. biennis. Furthermore, A. biennis allelopathy is differenttially expressed among plant parts, primarily in roots. This may explain how A. biennis is capable of dominating a habitat once it becomes established. The presence of extractable compounds with herbicidal activity could increase the potential usefulness of A. biennis.

Transcriptome and degradome sequencing reveals changes in Populus×euramericana‘Neva’caused by its allelopathic response to p-hydroxybenzoic acid

Plant species produce different types of allelopathic chemicals in nature;however,little is known about the differential regulation of plant allelopathy.Because allelopathy caused by p-hydroxybenzoic acid(pHBA)is one of the main obstacles to continuous cropping of Populus×euramericana ‘Neva’,we examined gene expression dynamics in Neva leaves induced by pHBA.The expression of genes related to photosynthesis and respiration changed,while mRNA involved in regulating gene expression during allelopathy was degraded.Some miRNAs that are involved in plant allelopathy target crucial genes for regulating reactive oxygen species.Moreover,coexpression regulatory networks were constructed based on profiles of the identified miRNA-target interactions and the differentially expressed miRNA-target pairs.These findings provide a mechanistic framework for understanding allelopathy in plants.

Weed-Suppressing Effect and Mechanism of Allelopathic Rice Accessions

Two allelopathic rice accessions, PI312777 and Allelopathy1, significantly suppressedthe growth of associated weeds in the field. Moreover, their weed-suppressing effectswere correlated with the cultivation patterns. The weed-suppressing effects of throwingand transplanting were more effective than that of direct seeding. Furthermore, theamounts of allelochemicals (resorcinols, flavones and hydroxamic acids) produced andreleased from two allelopathic rice accessions were much higher than that from a non-allelopathic rice variety Hua-Jing-Xian1, and reached the maximum concentration at the6th leaf stage. Differences in the weed-suppressing effects of rice accessions appear toresult from the accessions producing and releasing different amounts of allelochemicalsin the field. Further research confirmed that in PI312777 plants, allelochemicals weresynthesized by the above-ground parts, and then secreted through the root tissues. Roottissues of PI312777 plants never produced the allelochemicals. Root exudates fromPI312777 could significantly inhibit the growth of E. crus-galli surrounding rice plantsin water culture. However, when activated carbon was added to the culture solution, whichcould absorb allelochemicals from root exudates, the growth of E. crus-galli was nolonger significantly inhibited. Weed-suppressing effects of rice accessions depended onallelopathy, cultivation patterns and other factors in rice fields, while allelopathywas one of important factors. Interestingly, the amounts of allelochemicals produced andreleased from allelopathic rice plants may be induced by the presence of E. crus-galli.This suggests that there is a possible chemical recognition between rice and E. crus-galli.