Abstract
Organic acids are major water-soluble allelochemicals found in soil infested with quackgrass and are involved in several processes that are important in plant growth and development. This study was carried out to gain more information on the effects of benzoic acid (BEN) andtrans-cinnamic acid (CIN) on growth, mineral composition, and chlorophyll content of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv. Maple Bell] grown in nutrient solution. The two allelochemicals reduced root and shoot dry biomass of soybean. Treated plants had fewer lateral roots and tended to grow more horizontally compared to the untreated plants. Lateral roots were stunted and less flexible. The amounts of P, K, Mg, Mn, Cl−, and SO 2−4 were lower, and Zn and Fe contents were higher in roots of plants grown with BEN or CIN as compared to untreated plants. Shoots of plants grown with the allelochemical showed greater accumulation of Ca, Mg, and Zn, whereas P and Fe contents were reduced. The BEN and CIN also caused reductions in leaf chlorophyll content. The BEN and CIN may be responsible for negative allelopathic effects of quackgrass on soybean by inhibiting root growth, by altering ion uptake and transport, and by reducing chlorophyll content.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baker, J.E., Liebermann, M., andAnderson, J.D. 1978. Inhibition of ethylene production in fruit slices by a rhizobitoxine analog and free radical scavenger.Plant Physiol. 61:886–888.
Bates, G.W., andGoldsmith, M.H.M. 1983. Rapid response of the plasma-membrane potential in oat coleoptiles to auxin and other weak acids.Planta 159:231–237.
Baziramakenga, R.,Simard, R.R., andLeroux, G.D. 1994. Determination of organic acids in soil extracts by ion chromatography.Soil Biol. Biochem. In press.
Blum, U., andDalton, B.R. 1985. Effects of ferulic acid, an allelopathic compound, on leaf expansion of cucumber seedlings grown in nutrient culture.J. Chem. Ecol. 11:279–301.
Bobnick, S.J, andHagin, R.D. 1985. Allelopathic effects of vanillin and its glucoside on germinating legume seeds.Proc. 39th Annu. Meeting of NWSS, p. 76 (abstract).
Buttery, B.R., andBuzzell, R.I. 1977. The relationship between chlorophyll content and rate of photosynthesis in soybeans.Can. J. Plant. Sci. 57:1–5.
Cakmak, I., andHorst, W. 1991. Effect of aluminum on lipid peroxidation, Superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxide activities in root tips of soybean (Glycine max).Physiol. Plant. 83:463–468.
Cataldo, D.A., Haroom, M., Schrader, L.E., andYoungs, V.L. 1975. Rapid colorimetric determination of nitrate in plant tissue by titration of salicylic acid.Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 6:71–80.
Chou, C.-C. andPatrick, Z. A. 1976. Identification and phytotoxic activity of compounds produced during decomposition of corn and rye residues in soil.J. Chem. Ecol. 2:369–387.
Dube, A., Bharti, S., andLaloraya, A.M. 1992. Inhibition of anthocyanin synthesis by cobaltous ions in first internode ofSorghum bicolor L. Moench.J. Exp. Bot. 43:1379–1382.
Einhellig, F.A. 1986. Mechanisms and modes of action of allelochemicals, pp. 171–205,in A.R. Putnam and C.-S. Tang (eds.).The Science of Allelopathy. John Wiley & Sons, New York.
Glass, A.D.M. 1973. Influence of phenolic acids on ion uptake I. Inhibition of phosphate uptake.Plant Physiol. 51:1037–1041.
Glass, A.D.M. 1974a. Influence of phenolic acids on ion uptake III: Inhibition of potassium uptake.J. Exp. Bot. 25:1104–1113.
Glass, A.D.M. 1974b. Influence of phenolic acids upon ion uptake. II. A structure-activity study of the inhibition of phosphate uptake by benzoic acid derivatives, pp. 159–164,in R.L. Bieleski, A.R. Ferguson, and M.M. Cresswell (eds.). Mechanisms of Regulation of Plant Growth, Bulletin 12. The Royal Society of New Zealand, Wellington.
Glass, A.D.M., andDunlop, J. 1974. Influence of phenolic acids on ion uptake. IV. Depolarization of membrane potentials.Plant Physiol. 54:855–858.
Knudson, L.L., Tibbitts, T.W., andEdwards, G.E. 1977. Measurement of ozone injury by determination of leaf chlorophyll concentration.Plant Physiol. 60:606–608.
Kobza, J., andEinhellig, F.A. 1987. The effects of ferulic acid on the mineral nutrition of grain sorghum.Plant Soil 98:99–109.
Lynch, J.M. 1980. Effects of organic acids on the germination of seeds and growth of seedlings.Plant. Cell Environ. 3:255–259.
Macri, F., Vianello, A., andPennazio, S. 1986. Salicylate-collapsed membrane potential in pea stem mitochondria.Physiol. Plant. 67:136–140.
Mattagajasingh, S.N., andKar, M. 1989. Changes in the antioxidant system during the greening of etiolated wheat leaves.J. Plant Physiol. 134:656–660.
McClure, P.R., Gross, H.D., andJackson, W. 1978. Phosphate absorption by soybean varieties: The influence of ferulic acid.Can. J. Bot. 56:764–767.
Murphy, J., andRiley, J.P. 1962. A modified single solution method for the determination of phosphate in natural waters.Anal. Chim. Acta 27:31–36.
Patterson, D.T. 1981. Effects of allelopathic chemicals on growth and physiological responses of soybean (Glycine max).Weed Sci. 29:53–59.
Pospisil, F., andSindearova, M. 1981. The effect of phenolic acids on metabolism and nutrient uptake of roots, pp. 253–257,in R. Brouwer, O. Gasparikova, J. Kolek and B.C. Loughman (eds.). Structure and Function of Plant Roots. Martinus Nijhoff Dr W. Junk Publishers, The Hague.
Ramirez, A.M.E., andGarraway, J.L. 1982. Plant growth inhibitory activity of extracts of raw and treated pig slurry.J. Sci. Food Agric. 33:1189–1196.
Rice, E.L. 1984. Allelopathy, 2nd ed. Academic Press, Orlando, Florida, 422 pp.
Sato, T., Kiushi, F., andSankawa, U. 1982. Inhibition of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase by cinnamic acid derivatives and related compounds.Phytochemistry 21:845–850.
Tan, K.S., Hoson, T., Masuda, Y., andKamisaka, S. 1992. Effect of ferulic and coumaric acids inOryza coleoptile growth and the mechanical properties of cell walls.J. Plant Phvsiol. 140:460–465.
Tillberg, J.-E. 1970. Effects of abscisic acid, salicylic acid and trans-cinnamic acid on phosphate uptake, ATP-level and oxygen evolution inScenedesmus.Physiol. Plant. 23:647–653.
Ueda, J. 1989. Promotive effect of capillarol and related compounds on root growth.Physiol. Plant. 76:42–46.
Vaughan, D., andOrd, B.G. 1990. Influence of phenolic acids on morphological changes in roots ofPisum sativum.J. Sci. Food. Agric. 52:289–299.
Vaughan, D., andOrd, B.G. 1991. Extraction of potential allelochemicals and their effects on root morphology and nutrient content, pp. 399–421,in D. Atkinson (ed.). Plant Root Growth: An Ecological Perspective. Blackwell Scientific, London.
Warth, A.D. 1991. Effect of benzoic acid on glycolitic metabolite levels and intracellular pH inSaccharomyces cerevisiae.Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 57:3415–3417.
Weston, L.A., andPutnam, A.R. 1986. Inhibition of legume seedling growth by residues and extracts of quackgrass (Agropyron repens).Weed Sci. 34:366–372.
Whitehead, D.C., Dibb, H., andHartley, R.D. 1982. Bound phenolic compounds in water extracts of soils, plant roots and leaf litter.Soil Biol. Biochem. 15:133–136.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Contribution 493 of the Soils and Crop Research Center.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Baziramakenga, R., Simard, R.R. & Leroux, G.D. Effects of benzoic and cinnamic acids on growth, mineral composition, and chlorophyll content of soybean. J Chem Ecol 20, 2821–2833 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02098391
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02098391