ISHS Acta Horticulturae 381: International Symposium on Natural Phenols in Plant Resistance
DO PHENOLICS FROM THE PARASITIC WEED STRIGA INHIBIT HOST GROWTH? |
| Authors: | D. Bell-Lelong, Larry G. Butler, G. Ejeta, D. Hess |
| Keywords: | Striga, phenols, allelopathy, parasitic weed |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.1994.381.98 |
| Abstract:
It has been suggested that Striga has allelopathic activity on its hosts by means of a toxin. Striga hermonthica shoot extracts rapidly turn black consistent with the presence of high levels of oxidizable phenols and oxidative enzymes. Fresh extracts of Striga asiatica in vitro seedlings are clear and we have monitored the increase in absorbance at 584 nm which visibly is purple. Purpling was stopped by addition of a reducing agent or by boiling. We sought to determine whether Striga's phenolic compounds are responsible for the inhitory effects of this parasite. The toxic components are being characterized by bioassay-guided purification. Aqueous extracts from the field and from cultured material were fractionated. The highest levels of phenols, the bioactivity and the purpling all remained in the aqueous phase after extracting with solvents of increasing polarity. | |
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