Abstract
Root exudates ofSorghum bicolor consist primarily of a dihydroquinone that is quickly oxidized to ap-benzoquinone named sorgoleone. The aim of this investigation was to determine the potential activity of sorgoleone as an inhibitor of weed growth. Bioassays showed 125μM sorgoleone reduced radicle elongation ofEragrostis tef. In liquid culture, 50-μM sorgoleone treatments stunted the growth ofLemna minor. Over a 10-day treatment period, 10μM sorgoleone in the nutrient medium reduced the growth of all weed seedlings tested:Abutilon theophrasti, Datura stramonium, Amaranthus retroflexus, Setaria viridis, Digitaria sanguinalis, andEchinochloa crusgalli. These data show sorgoleone has biological activity at extremely low concentrations, suggesting a strong contribution toSorghum allelopathy.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abdul-Wahab, A.S., andRice, E.L. 1967. Plant inhibition by Johnson grass and its possible significance in old-field succession.Bull. Torrey Bot. Club. 94:486–497.
Alsaadawi, I.S., Al-Uqaili, J.K., Alrubeaa, A.J., andAl-Hadithy, S.M. 1986. Allelopathic suppression of weed and nitrification by selected cultivars ofSorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.J. Chem. Ecol. 12:209–219.
Boe, A., Sommerfeldt, J., Wynia, R., andThiex, N. 1986. A preliminary evaluation of the forage potential of teff.Proc. S. Dak. Acad. Sci. 65:75–82.
Breazeale, J.F. 1924. The injurious after-effects of sorghum.J. Am. Soc. Agron. 16:689–700.
Chang, M., Netzly, D.H., Butler, L.G., andLynn, D.G. 1986. Chemical regulation of distance: Characterization of the first natural host germination stimulant forStriga asiatica.J. Am. Chem. Soc. 108:7858–7860.
Cleland, C.F., andBriggs, W.R. 1967. Flowering response of the long-day plantLemna gibba G3.Plant Physiol. 42:1553–1561.
Einhellig, F.A. 1986. Mechanisms and modes of action of allelochemicals, pp. 171–188,in A.R. Putnam and C.S. Tang (eds.). The Science of Allelopathy. John Wiley & Sons, New York.
Einhellig, F.A. 1989. Interactive effects of allelochemicals and environmental stress, pp. 101–118,in C.H. Chou and G.R. Waller (eds.). Phytochemical Ecology: Allelochemicals, Mycotoxins and Insect Pheromones and Allomones. Institute of Botany, Academia Sinica Mongraph Series No. 9. Taipei, Taiwan.
Einhellig, F.A., andRasmussen, J.A. 1979. Effects of three phenolic acids on chlorophyll content and growth of soybean and grain sorghum seedlings.J. Chem. Ecol. 5:815–824.
Einhellig, F.A., andRasmussen, J.A. 1989. Prior cropping with grain sorghum inhibits weeds.J. Chem. Ecol. 15:951–960.
Einhellig, F.A., Rice, E.L., Risser, P.G., andWender, S.H. 1970. Effects of scopoletin on growth, CO2 exchange rates, and concentration of scopoletin, scopolin, and chlorogenic acids in tobacco, sunflower, and pigweed.Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 97:22–33.
Einhellig, F.A., Leather, G.R., andHobbs, L.L. 1985. Use ofLemna minor L. as a bioassay in allelopathy.J. Chem. Ecol. 11:65–72.
Fate, G., Chang, M., andLynn, D.G. 1990. Control of germination inStriga asiatica: Chemistry of spatial definition.Plant Physiol. 93:201–207.
Forney, D.R., Foy, C.L., andWolf, D.D. 1985. Weed suppression in no-till alfalfa (Medicago sativa) by prior cropping of summer-annual forage grasses.Weed Sci. 33:490–497.
Guenzi, W.D., andMcCalla, T.M. 1966. Phenolic acids in oats, wheat, sorghum and corn residues and their phytotoxicity.Agron. J. 58:303–304.
Guenzi, W.D., McCalla, T.M., andNordstadt, F.A. 1967. Presence and persistence of phytotoxic substances in wheat, oat, corn, and sorghum residues.Agron. J. 59:163–165.
Haar, M.J. 1990. Allelopathic effects of several sesquiterpene lactones. MA thesis. University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota. 73 pp.
Hoagland, D.R., andArnon, D.I. 1950. The water culture method for growing plants without soil. Calif. Agric. Exp. Stn. Circ. 347.
Hussain, P., andGadoon, M.A. 1981. Allelopathic effects ofSorghum vulgare Pers.Oecologia 51:284–288.
Lehle, F.R., andPutnam, A.R. 1983. Allelopathic potential of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor): Isolation of seed germination inhibitors.J. Chem. Ecol. 9:1223–1234.
Martin, J.H., Couch, J.F., andBriese, R.R. 1938. Hydrocyanic acid content of different parts of the sorghum plant.J. Am. Soc. Agron. 30:725–734.
Netzly, D.H., andButler, L.G. 1986. Roots ofSorghum exude hydrophobic droplets containing biologically active components.Crop Sci. 26:775–778.
Netzly, D.H., Riopel, J.L., Ejeta, G., andButler, L.G. 1988. Germination stimulants of witchweed (Striga asiatica) from hydrophobic root exudate of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor).Weed Sci. 36:441–446.
Nicollier, G.F., Pope, D.F., andThompson, A.C. 1983. Biological activity of dhurrin and other compounds from Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense).J. Agric. Food Chem. 31:744–748.
Panasiuk, O., Bills, D.D., andLeather, G.R. 1986. Allelopathic influence ofSorghum bicolor on weeds during germination and early development of seedlings.J. Chem. Ecol. 12:1533–1543.
Purvis, C.E. 1990. Allelopathy: A new direction in weed control.Plant Prot. Q. 5:55–59.
Putnam, A.R., andDefrank, J. 1983. Use of phytotoxic plant residues for selective weed control.Crop Prot. 2:173–181.
Putnam, A.R., DeFrank, J., andBarnes, J.P. 1983. Exploitation of allelopathy for weed control in annual and perennial cropping systems.J. Chem. Ecol. 8:1001–1010.
Ramirez-Toro, G.I., Leather, G.R., andEinhellig, F.A. 1988. Effects of three phenolic compounds onLemna gibba G3.J. Chem. Ecol. 14:845–853.
Rice, E.L. 1984. Allelopathy. Academic Press, Orlando, Florida, 422 pp.
Rietveld, W.J. 1983. Allelopathic effects of juglone on germination and growth of several herbaceous and woody species.J. Chem. Ecol. 9:295–308.
Scholes, K.A. 1987. Effects of six classes of allelochemicals on growth, photosynthesis, and chlorophyll content inLemna minor L. MA thesis. University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota. 81 pp.
Weston, L.A., Harmon, R., andMueller, S. 1989. Allelopathic potential of sorghum-sudangrass hybrid (sudex).J. Chem. Ecol. 15:1855–1865.
Wintermans, J.F.G.M., andDeMots, A. 1965. Spectrophotometry characteristics of chlorophylls a and b and their pheophytins in ethanol.Biochim. Biophys. Acta 109:448–453.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Einhellig, F.A., Souza, I.F. Phytotoxicity of sorgoleone found in grain Sorghum root exudates. J Chem Ecol 18, 1–11 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00997160
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00997160