This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tang, C.-S. Articles by Young, C.-C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Tang, C.-S. Articles by Young, C.-C. Agricola Articles by Tang, C.-S. Articles by Young, C.-C.

Articles

Collection and Identification of Allelopathic Compounds from the Undisturbed Root System of Bigalta Limpograss (Hemarthria altissima) ¹

Department of Agricultural Biochemistry, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822

Collection of allelopathic chemicals from the undisturbed plant root system is difficult because of their low concentrations and the high level of contaminants in growth media such as soil. A new approach for the continuous trapping of quantities of extracellular chemicals from donor plants is described. Bigalta limpograss (Hemarthria altissima), a tropical forage with allelopathic activities, was established in sand culture. Nutrient solution was circulated continuously through the root system and a column containing XAD-4 resin. Extracellular hydrophobic metabolites were selectively adsorbed by the resin, while inorganic nutrients were recycled to sustain plant growth. Columns were eluted with methanol and the eluate separated into neutral, acidic, and basic fractions. Bioassays of trapped root exudates using lettuce seed combined with paper and thin layer chromatography showed that the inhibitors were mainly phenolic compounds. The active neutral fraction was methylated and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Twelve compounds were identified, with two additional compounds tentatively identified. 3-Hydroxyhydrocinnamic, benzoic, phenylacetic, and hydrocinnamic acids were the major rhizospheric compounds with known growth regulatory activities.

Inasmuch as the root system was undisturbed and the recovery of exudates was highly efficient compared to conventional solvent extraction methods, this trapping system should be useful for a wide range of studies that relate to the chemistry of the rhizosphere.

¹ Supported by the Science and Education Administration of the United States Department of Agriculture under Grant 7800663 from the Competitive Research Grant Office. Journal Series No. 2573 of the Hawaii Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Inderjit Soil: Environmental Effects on Allelochemical Activity Agron. J., January 1, 2001; 93(1): 79 - 84. [Abstract] [Full Text]