Phytotoxins from Tithonia diversifolia

Tithonia diversifolia (Mexican sunflower) is a dominant plant of the Asteraceae family, which suggests it produces allelochemicals that interfere with the development of surrounding plants. The study described herein was conducted to identify the compounds that have phytotoxic activity in T. diversifolia extracts. Ethyl acetate extracts of the leaves, stems, and roots showed significant inhibition of wheat coleoptile growth, and the leaf extract had similar inhibitory effects to a commercial herbicide. Fourteen compounds, 12 of which were sesquiterpene lactones, have been isolated. Two sesquiterpene lactones are reported for the first time and were isolated as an inseparable mixture of 8β-O-(2-methylbutyroyl)- tirotundin (4) and 8β-O-(isovaleroyl)tirotundin (5). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis, including NMR techniques and mass spectrometry. The sesquiterpene lactones 1β methoxydiversifolin (6), tagitinin A (7), and tagitinin C (8) were the major products identified. These compounds were active on etiolated wheat coleoptiles, seed germination, and the growth of STS and weeds. The phytotoxic activity shown by these sesquiterpene lactones indicates that they are the compounds responsible for the activity exhibited by the initial extracts

Allelopathy of Bracken Fern (Pteridium arachnoideum): New Evidence from Green Fronds, Litter, and Soil

The neotropical bracken fern Pteridium arachnoideum (Kaulf.) Maxon. (Dennstaedtiaceae) is described as an aggressive pioneer plant species. It invades abandoned or newly burned areas and represents a management challenge at these invaded sites. Native to the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado (Tropical Savanna) Brazilian biomes, P. arachnoideum has nevertheless become very problematic in these conservation hotspots. Despite some reports suggesting a possible role of allelopathy in this plant’s dominance, until now there has been little evidence of isolated and individually identified compounds with phytotoxic activities present in its tissues or in the surrounding environment. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the allelopathic potential of P. arachnoideum by isolating and identifying any secondary metabolites with phytotoxic activity in its tissues, litter, and soil. Bioguided phytochemical investigation led to the isolation and identification of the proanthocyanidin selligueain A as the major secondary compound in the green fronds and litter of this fern. It is produced by P. arachnoideum in its green fronds, remains unaltered during the senescence process, and is the major secondary compound present in litter. Selligueain A showed phytotoxic activity against the selected target species sesame (Sesamum indicum) early development. In particular, the compound inhibited root and stem growth, and root metaxylem cell size but did not affect chlorophyll content. This compound can be considered as an allelochemical because it is present in the soil under P. arachnoideum patches as one of the major compounds in the soil solution. This is the first report of the presence of selligueain A in any member of the Dennstaedtiaceae family and the first time an isolated and identified allelochemical produced by members of the Pteridium species complex has been described. This evidence of selligueain A as a putative allelochemical of P. arachnoideum reinforces the role of allelopathy in the dominance processes of this plant in the areas where it occurs

Estudo fitoquímico de folhas de Solanum lycocarpum A. St.-Hil (Solanaceae) e sua aplicação na alelopatia

(Phytochemistry of Solanum lycocarpum A.St.–Hil (Solanaceae) leaves and their application in allelopathy). Solanum lycocarpum A.St.-Hil (Solanaceae) is a typical shrub in the Cerrado of central Brazil. The allelopathic activity of aqueous extracts of the leaves and fruits of this species has already been proven in previous studies. The goal of this work was to verify the allelopathic activity of different leaf extracts of S. lycocarpum on the germination and growth of four target species. The leaves were collected, dried, triturated and submitted to two distinct methods of extraction: 1- liquid--liquid (ethyl acetate and dichloromethane) from the aqueous extract and 2- with solvents of increasing polarities (hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, acetone, methanol and water) directly from the leaves. Each extraction was made with ultrasound equipment for one hour, filtered and evaporated. From these extracts, solutions of 800, 400 and 200 ppm were prepared, and water and Logran® were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. Each solution, as well as the controls, was dissolved in DMSO for the bioassays. The target species used were lettuce, watercress, tomato and onion. To each plate, 20 seeds were added and 1 mL of the tested solutions (with 4 repetitions). The plates were incubated at 25 oC without light, and the shoots and roots of the seedlings were then measured and the percentage of germination and the inhibition of each extract were calculated. Tomato was the most sensitive to the extracts, followed by watercress, onion and lettuce. The extracts with stronger activity were AcOEt, acetone and the liquid-liquid extraction, indicating the fractions that may contain the active principles of the leaves in this species

Phytotoxins from <i>Tithonia diversifolia</i>

<i>Tithonia diversifolia</i> (Mexican sunflower) is a dominant plant of the Asteraceae family, which suggests it produces allelochemicals that interfere with the development of surrounding plants. The study described herein was conducted to identify the compounds that have phytotoxic activity in <i>T. diversifolia</i> extracts. Ethyl acetate extracts of the leaves, stems, and roots showed significant inhibition of wheat coleoptile growth, and the leaf extract had similar inhibitory effects to a commercial herbicide. Fourteen compounds, 12 of which were sesquiterpene lactones, have been isolated. Two sesquiterpene lactones are reported for the first time and were isolated as an inseparable mixture of 8β-<i>O</i>-(2-methylbutyroyl)­tirotundin (<b>4</b>) and 8β-<i>O</i>-(isovaleroyl)­tirotundin (<b>5</b>). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis, including NMR techniques and mass spectrometry. The sesquiterpene lactones 1β-methoxydiversifolin (<b>6</b>), tagitinin A (<b>7</b>), and tagitinin C (<b>8</b>) were the major products identified. These compounds were active on etiolated wheat coleoptiles, seed germination, and the growth of STS and weeds. The phytotoxic activity shown by these sesquiterpene lactones indicates that they are the compounds responsible for the activity exhibited by the initial extracts

Accelerated ageing like a vigour test to diasporas of Myracrodruon urundeuva Fr. Allem Envelhecimento acelerado como teste de vigor para diásporos de aroeira (Myracrodruon urundeuva Fr. Allem)

This work established the adequate temperature and the period of exposition for the accelerated ageing test with diasporas of Myracrodruon urundeuva from an area of the Cerrado in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Before and after the ageing, at the temperatures of 40ºC, 41ºC, 42ºC and 45ºC combined with periods of 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 hours, the water content and germination were evaluated. For each treatment, 12g of diasporas in mini chambers with 40 mL of distilled water were submitted to the accelerated ageing test. A total of 100 diasporas, divided into four replications, in plastic boxes, on two sheets of blotting paper, in germinator at 25ºC and 8 hours of photoperiod were germinated. In all treatments the content of water of the aged diasporas was superior to 20% and this value stabilized itself between 25% and 28%, from the 18 hours of exposition. Independently of the tested periods, the ageing at the temperatures of 40ºC, 41ºC and 42ºC did not affect the germination. After the ageing at 45ºC, the germination did not differ among the periods of 12, 18 and 24 hours of exposition, but in all these periods it was inferior to the control and superior to the periods of 30 and 36 hours. In these last two periods, fungi were observed. The accelerated ageing of diasporas of Myracrodruon urundeuva should be conducted at the temperature of 45ºC, during the exposition periods of 12 to 24 hours.<br>Este estudo objetivou determinar a temperatura e o período de exposição adequados para o teste de envelhecimento acelerado com diásporos de aroeira provenientes de uma área de Cerrado em Mato Grosso. Foram avaliados o teor de água e a germinação, antes e depois do envelhecimento, nas temperaturas de 40 ºC, 41 ºC, 42 ºC e 45 ºC, combinadas com os períodos de 12, 18, 24, 30 e 36 h. Para cada tratamento, 12 g de diásporos foram envelhecidos em minicâmaras com 40 mL de água destilada. Foram germinados 100 diásporos, divididos em quatro repetições, em caixas de plástico, sobre duas folhas de papel mata-borrão, em germinadores a 25 ºC e 8 h de fotoperíodo. Em todos os tratamentos, o teor de água dos diásporos envelhecidos foi superior a 20% e se estabilizou entre 25% e 28% a partir de 18 h de exposição. Independentemente dos períodos testados, o envelhecimento a 40 ºC, 41 ºC e 42 ºC não afetou a germinação. Após o envelhecimento a 45 ºC, a germinação não diferiu entre os períodos de 12, 18 e 24 h, mas em todos esses intervalos foi inferior ao controle e superior aos tempos de 30 e 36 h. Nesses dois últimos períodos foi constatada a presença de fungos. O envelhecimento de diásporos de aroeira deve ser conduzido na temperatura de 45 ºC, durante 12 a 24 h de exposição

Efeito do estresse hídrico e envelhecimento precoce na viabilidade de sementes osmocondicionadas de paineira (Chorisia speciosa) Water stress and accelerated aging effects on the viability of osmoconditioned Chorisia speciosa seeds

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficiência do condicionamento osmótico em aumentar a tolerância de sementes de paineira (Chorisia speciosa St. Hil.) ao estresse hídrico e ao envelhecimento precoce. As sementes foram condicionadas em solução de KNO3 (0,1M) a 20ºC durante 24 horas, e desidratadas a 27ºC até atingirem o peso inicial, apresentado antes do tratamento. Em seguida, foram expostas ao estresse hídrico simulado com soluções de PEG 6000 nos potenciais osmóticos de 0,0, -0,1, -0,2, -0,3, -0,4, -0,5, -0,6 e -0,7 MPa e aos efeitos do envelhecimento precoce (45ºC e 100% UR) durante 0, 24, 48, 72, 96 e 120 horas. Nas sementes condicionadas e submetidas ao estresse hídrico, os valores médios de porcentagem e velocidade de germinação foram estatisticamente superiores aos obtidos em sementes não condicionadas. Além disso, o condicionamento osmótico aumentou o limite máximo de tolerância ao estresse hídrico. As sementes condicionadas foram mais sensíveis ao envelhecimento precoce.<br>The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of osmotic conditioning on the tolerance increase of seeds of Chorisia speciosa St. Hil. to water stress and accelerated aging. The seeds previously scarified (punction) were primed in KNO3 (0.1M) solutions at 20ºC during 24 hours. After that, the seeds were dried (at 27ºC) until the initial moisture level, presented before the pre-imbibition, was reached. Primed and non primed seeds were exposed to water stress simulated with PEG 6000 solutions, with 0.0, -0.1, -0.2, -0.3, -0.4, -0.5, -0.6 and -0.7 MPa of osmotic potentials and to accelerated aging at 45ºC and 100% of RU during 0, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours. The mean values of rate and germination percentage were higher in primed seed than in non primed ones. The tolerance limit to water stress was extended for primed seed. Primed seeds were more sensible to accelerated aging