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Bidens pilosa L. Exhibits High Sensitivity to Coumarin in Comparison with Three Other Weed Species

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Abstract

Nine natural plant compounds were screened for phytotoxicity to Bidens pilosa L. a troublesome weed in field and plantation crops. The sensitivity of three other weed species to coumarin, the most active identified compound, was also evaluated. Coumarin, at a concentration of 500 μM, had little effect on germination and growth of Senna obtusifolia L., Euphorbia heterophylla L., and Ipomoea grandifolia L. when compared with its effects on B. pilosa L. In a concentration range of 10–100 μM, coumarin caused a dose-dependent inhibition of germination and growth of B. pilosa L. The measurements of some parameters of energy metabolism revealed that coumarin-treated root tissues exhibited characteristics of seedlings in an earlier stage of growth, including higher respiratory activity and higher activities of alcohol dehydrogenase and lipoxygenase. These results suggest that coumarin inhibition of germination and growth of B. pilosa L. was not a consequence of an impairment of energy metabolism. Rather, it seems to act as a cytostatic agent, retarding germination. At concentrations above 50 μM, coumarin increased lipoxygenase activity and the level of conjugated dienes of root extracts, suggesting that it may induce oxidative stress in seedling roots.

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Abbreviations

AOX:

alternative oxidase

COX:

cytochrome oxidase

DTT:

dithiothreitol

EDTA:

ethylene diamide tetracetic acid

KCN:

potassium cyanide

MDA:

malondialdehyde

TBA:

2-thiobarbituric acid

TCA:

trichloroacetic acid

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from the Fundação Araucária do Estado do Paraná and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). Érica Marusa Pergo fellowship holder from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico. We are indebted to Dr. Adelar Bracht for suggestions on the revision of the present manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Biological Oxidations, Department of Biochemistry, University of Maringá, 87020900, Maringá, Brazil

    Érica Marusa Pergo, Denise Abrahim, Patrícia Cristina Soares da Silva, Kátia Aparecida Kern, Lucas Jonatas Da Silva & Emy Luiza Ishii-Iwamoto

  2. Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation-EMBRAPA, Londrina, Brazil

    Elemar Voll

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  1. Érica Marusa Pergo
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Correspondence to Emy Luiza Ishii-Iwamoto.

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Pergo, É.M., Abrahim, D., Soares da Silva, P.C. et al. Bidens pilosa L. Exhibits High Sensitivity to Coumarin in Comparison with Three Other Weed Species. J Chem Ecol 34, 499–507 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-008-9449-8

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