Plant phenolics in allelopathy

Phenolics are one of the many secondary metabolites implicated in allelopathy. To establish that allelopathy functions in a natural ecosystem, the allelopathic bioassay must be ecologically realistic so that responses of appropriate bioassay species are determined at relevant concentrations. It is important to isolate, identify, and characterize phenolic compounds from the soil. However, since it is essentially impossible to simulate exact field conditions, experiments must be designed with conditions resembling those found in natural systems. It is argued that allelopathic potential of phenolics can be appreciated only when we have a good understanding of 1) species responses to phenolic allelochemicals, 2) methods for extraction and isolation of phenolic allelochemicals, and 3) how abiotic and biotic factors affect phenolic toxicity.     

菊科植物化感作用研究进展

对菊科植物化感作用的研究进展进行了综述。菊科植物中至少有 39个属存在化感作用 ,特别是一枝黄花属、向日葵属、胜红蓟属、银胶菊属、蒿属植物等有较多的研究报道。鉴定出的化感物质多为萜类、聚乙炔类、酚类、有机酸类等 ,这些化感物质对多种受体植物表现出程度不同的抑制或促进的效应。其化感作用机理表现在破坏受体膜系统的稳定性及水分平衡关系、抑制氧化磷酸化、促进或阻滞叶绿素的合成、影响矿质元素的吸收利用等。并对菊科植物化感物质在植物生长调节剂、天然除草剂和生物杀虫剂 ,或人工合成除草剂和杀虫剂上应用的前景进行了探讨。本文显示菊科植物的化感作用将在控制外来恶性杂草及维护生态平衡上扮演重要的角色。在当前菊科植物化感作用研究的基础上 ,提出了进一步研究的 6个方向 :(1)化感物质的生物合成途径与关键酶的特性研究 ;(2 )具化感潜势物种资源的调查评价及利用研究 ;(3)化感作用在自然生态系统中的演变规律 ;(4 )菊科重要作物自毒的生化机制及克服途径 ;(5 )具应用前景的菊科植物化感关键酶的基因克隆和转基因 ,并对受体植物基因的表达与调控进行研究 ;(6 )化感作用在可持续发展农业应用上的研究与开发 ,特别是作为天然除草剂及杀虫剂     

Challenges,achievements and opportunities in allelopathy research

Abstract

Allelopathy is defined as the suppression of any aspect of growth and/or development of one plant by another through the release of chemical compounds. Although allelopathic interference has been demonstrated many times using in vitro experiments, few studies have clearly demonstrated allelopathy in natural settings. This difficulty reflects the complexity in examining and demonstrating allelopathic interactions under field conditions. In this paper we address a number of issues related to the complexity of allelopathic interference in higher plants: These are: (i) is a demonstrated pattern or zone of inhibition important in documenting allelopathy? (ii) is it ecologically relevant to explain the allelopathic potential of a species based on a single bioactive chemical? (iii) what is the significance of the various modes of allelochemical release from the plant into the environment? (iv) do soil characteristics clearly influence allelopathic activity? (v) is it necessary to exclude other plant interference mechanisms?, and (vi) how can new achievements in allelopathy research aid in solving problems related to relevant ecological issues encountered in research conducted upon natural systems and agroecosystems? A greater knowledge of plant interactions in ecologically relevant environments, as well as the study of biochemical pathways, will enhance our understanding of the role of allelopathy in agricultural and natural settings. In addition, novel findings related to the relevant enzymes and genes involved in production of putative allelochemicals, allelochemical persistence in the rhizosphere, the molecular target sites of allelochemicals in sensitive plant species and the influence of allelochemicals upon other organisms will likely lead to enhanced utilization of natural products for pest management or as pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. This review will address these recent findings, as well as the major challenges which continue to influence the outcomes of allelopathy research.     

Allelopathy as a new strategy for sustainable ecosystems development.

Natural products involved in plant-plant and plant-microorganism ecological interaction (Allelochemicals) are an important potential source for alternative agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals, in order to solve the many problems derived from inadequate culture practices and abuse of synthetic herbicides. Isolation, structural determination, bioassay techniques and applicability for these compounds in crop protection and pharmaceutical research are discussed, and future trends on Allelochemicals applications are examined. The new strategies for sustainable ecosystems controlled by allelochemicals offer a particular interest for the development of human bases in space, since these products can stimulate or inhibit plant germination and growth, and permit to develop crops with low residue amounts in water, facilitating wastewater treatment and recycling.     

酚酸类物质的化感作用研究进展

酚酸类物质是普遍存在于高等植物组织并与植物生长密切相关的次级代谢产物。几十年来,人们对酚酸类化合物的认识逐渐加深,但关于其在生物学、生态学以及农业上的作用机制仍不是很清楚。因此,进一步了解这些生物分子将有助于生态系统的维持与保护。重点介绍了酚酸类物质的来源及化感作用,微生物对酚酸类物质的降解机理,代谢途径及相应分子水平的研究,指出了酚酸类物质研究中存在的问题,同时展望了酚酸类物质的研究方向与前景。     

Plant drugs in the twenty-first century

Lack of effective cooperation among researchers in the applicable biological, physical, and clinical sciences has accounted, in large measure, for the lack of successful development in the United States of any significant number of new plant drugs during the latter part of the 20th century. Unrealistic federal regulations that tend to render unprofitable such research have also played an important role in hindering the development of new plant drugs. It is likely that both of these factors will change in the future as health-conscious consumers demand more accurate information and wider availability of natural drug products. Several anticipated developments will greatly facilitate research and production in this previously difficult area. These include the development of new, simplified bioassay procedures; improved, easily applied analytical methods; and innovative plant-cell-culture methodologies, possibly involving genetic manipulation. The kinds of drugs that need to be developed using such techniques are discussed. It is concluded that significant new plant drugs and new methods of producing them will be developed to serve mankind during the 21st century.     

Dietary phytochemicals as rumen modifiers: a review of the effects on microbial populations

In the recent years, the exploration of bioactive phytochemicals as natural feed additives has been of great interest among nutritionists and rumen microbiologists to modify the rumen fermentation favorably such as defaunation, inhibition of methanogenesis, improvement in protein metabolism, and increasing conjugated linoleic acid content in ruminant derived foods. Many phytochemicals such as saponins, essential oils, tannins and flavonoids from a wide range of plants have been identified, which have potential values for rumen manipulation and enhancing animal productivity as alternatives to chemical feed additives. However, their effectiveness in ruminant production has not been proved to be consistent and conclusive. This review discusses the effects of phytochemicals such as saponins, tannins and essential oils on the rumen microbial populations, i.e., bacteria, protozoa, fungi and archaea with highlighting molecular diversity of microbial community in the rumen. There are contrasting reports of the effects of these phytoadditives on the rumen fermentation and rumen microbes probably depending upon the interactions among the chemical structures and levels of phytochemicals used, nutrient composition of diets and microbial components in the rumen. The study of chemical structure–activity relationships is required to exploit the phytochemicals for obtaining target responses without adversely affecting beneficial microbial populations. A greater understanding of the modulatory effects of phytochemicals on the rumen microbial populations together with fermentation will allow a better management of the rumen ecosystem and a practical application of this feed additive technology in livestock production.     

酚顿试剂对竹林土壤中酚类化合物的降解作用

酚类化合物是农业和生态系统中主要的化感物质之一,大量积累在土壤中,抑制作物和林下植物生长,导致农作物减产、连作障碍和自然生态环境破坏。用过氧化氢(H2O2)与硫酸亚铁(Fe2 )所组成的酚顿试剂研究了化学氧化法对化感物质(对香豆酸、对羟基苯甲酸和胡桃醌)、竹林土壤提取物及竹林土壤中对香豆酸的降解作用。过氧化氢与硫酸亚铁的摩尔比为15:1的酚顿试剂,过氧化氢与酚类物质浓度比为8:1时,对酚类物质的降解效率最高。以8×10-3mol/L(0.028%)的H2O2,5.4×10-4mol/L(0.075%)的FeSO4和10-3mol/L的酚类物质组成的反应体系中,反应10min和30min后,对香豆酸的降解率分别为55%和74%;对羟基苯甲酸的降解率在10min时达90%以上;而胡桃醌在10min时已经完全被降解。酚顿试剂处理土壤酚类提取物时,可使其中主要的化感物质对香豆酸降解75%。用含0.1%和1%H2O2的酚顿试剂处理竹(Bambusa chungii)林土壤,土壤对香豆酸的降解率分别为32%和37%。竹林土壤中存在过氧化氢酶和过氧化物酶活性,但没有检测到超氧化物歧化酶活性。土壤中的过氧化氢酶和过氧化物酶可能迅速分解外加的过氧化氢,一方面缩短过氧化氢处理的作用时间和降低降解效率,另一方面可分解过剩的过氧化氢。这说明酚顿试剂是降解土壤和培养液中有害化感物质的有效化学氧化剂。     

The importance of analytical techniques in allelopathy studies with the reported allelochemical catechin as an example

Allelopathy can be challenging to demonstrate. Developing rigorous analytical techniques to detect and quantify compound(s) of interest from soil or liquid media lays the foundation for designing ecologically relevant experiments that incorporate candidate allelochemicals. In this paper, fundamental components of analytical techniques, including method development, validation, and appropriate controls are discussed. Research on the candidate allelochemical from spotted knapweed, catechin, is used as an example to demonstrate the importance of including these components both during data collection and in subsequent publications. This example shows how contrasting results between research groups can be difficult to interpret when information on controls and method validation are not included in publications. Recent research suggests that catechin is not likely driving spotted knapweed’s invasion, and thus future research on this system should focus on alternate candidate toxins from spotted knapweed. By employing appropriate analytical techniques, such as those outlined here, a strong foundation can be laid for ecologically oriented experiments that examine the role of allelochemicals in structuring communities.     

水稻化感作用及其分子生态学研究进展

综述了近年来国际上研究水稻化感作用的新进展,比较分析了当前常用于室内评价水稻化感作用潜力的几种生物测试法的优缺点,指出了琼脂迟播共培法是较为理想的室内生物测试法并已广泛应用于化感作用研究中。在此基础上,分析了水稻化感作用的数量遗传特性及其QTL定位的研究现状;阐明了水稻化感作用的遗传多样性及其分子生态特性;并就当前普遍关注的焦点问题：逆境条件（如低氮或高伴生杂草密度胁迫）常引起水稻化感作用潜力增大的生理过程与分子机制作了阐述。结合近年来应用差异蛋白组学和生物信息学的研究实例,阐明了逆境引起水稻化感作用增强与其酚类合成代谢相关酶蛋白表达丰度增加,萜类合成代谢相关酶蛋白表达丰度下降有关。就究竟什么是水稻的化感物质及其作用方式等问题作了分析与讨论．指出水稻的化感抑草效应是其众多化感物质综合作用的结果,应重视区分化感物质对靶标杂草的原生作用和进入土壤生态系统中经生物转化后的次生作用。根据当前植物化感作用研究的发展趋势,阐明了进一步研究水稻化感作用的焦点问题,提出了水稻化感作用的根际生物学特性与分子生态学机制,是未来国际上竞相角逐的重点研究领域,并认为以现代系统生物学理论为指导,运用基因组学、蛋白质组学和代谢组学等技术方法,是揭示这一分子生态学过程与机制的重要技术选择和优先研究领域。     

腐解6个月后杉木枯枝落叶及腐殖土中的化感成分对杉木种子的化感效应

对腐解6个月后杉木[Cunninghamia lanceolata（Lamb．）Hook．]枯枝落叶及腐殖土中的化感成分进行了提取分离及生物检测。结果表明,枯枝落叶及腐殖土中的极性和弱极性化感成分对杉木种子的绝对发芽率、绝对发芽势、胚根长和胚轴长均有一定的抑制作用。随浓度的提高,枯枝落叶中的弱极性化感成分对绝对发芽率、胚轴长及幼苗干质量的抑制作用及极性化感成分对绝对发芽势、胚轴长的抑制作用均逐渐增强;腐殖土中的弱极性化感成分对绝对发芽率、绝对发芽势、胚根长及胚轴长的抑制作用及极性化感成分对胚轴长的抑制作用也逐渐增强。枯枝落叶中的化感成分对绝对发芽率、绝对发芽势及幼苗干质量的抑制效应高于腐殖土中的化感成分。     

腐解3个月后杉木枯枝落叶及腐殖土中的化感成分对杉木种子的化感效应

对腐解3个月后杉木〔Cunninghamia lanceolata(Lamb.) Hook.〕枯枝落叶及腐殖土中的化感成分进行了提取分离,并用杉木种子进行了生物检测。结果表明,与对照相比,杉木枯枝落叶中的极性和弱极性化感成分以及腐殖土中的弱极性化感成分对杉木种子的绝对发芽率、绝对发芽势、胚根长和胚轴长均有一定的抑制作用,但对幼苗干质量的抑制作用不明显。随浓度的提高,杉木枯枝落叶中的弱极性化感成分对杉木种子的绝对发芽势和胚轴长的抑制作用明显提高,极性化感成分对胚根长的抑制作用不断减小。随腐殖土中弱极性化感成分浓度的提高,对杉木种子绝对发芽率的抑制作用增加;腐殖土中的极性化感成分对杉木种子的绝对发芽率、绝对发芽势及胚轴长的抑制作用均随着浓度的升高而逐渐增强。     

植物化感物质活性变化及其作用机理研究进展

本文综述了化感物质活性的变化、变化的原因及其功能机理.化感物质活性在自然过程中,由于温度、光周期、水和土壤等的不同而变化,在功能过程中随其初始浓度、化合物结构和混合程度不同而变化,在植物体内由于组织器官和成熟程度不同而变化,而研究技术和操作过程也影响化感物质的活性.文章还讨论了未来化感作用研究的发展方向.未来化感作用研究将集焦于如下五方面:(1)更有效地在实践中,特别是在农业生产过程中鉴定和提纯化感物质;(2)化感作用在分子结构水平的功能定位;(3)应用化感作用解释植物种间相互作用;(4)化感作用在植被演替过程中的驱动力作用;(5)化感作用在进化过程中的意义.     

Microbial metabolites as eco-friendly agrochemicals for the next millennium

As a result of the increasing environmental and health-related problems caused by the synthetic agrochemicals currently used, suitable and non-hazardous innovative alternatives are being sought. Antagonism and allelopathy, both in nature and in agro-ecosystems, have attracted these researchers' attention, with the main goal of using these phenomena in the biological control of weeds. This article presents a review on the use and efficacy of microbial secondary metabolites which have potential as natural herbicides, either directly or as templates for bio-rational eco-friendly agrochemicals (allelochemicals). Their merits as alternatives to synthetic chemicals and biological control agents have been highlighted for an holistic approach in integrated pest/weed management.     

On laboratory bioassays in allelopathy

Allelopathy involves the complex chain of chemical communications among plants, including microbes. Laboratory bioassays constitute a significant part of allelopathic research, and various bioassays have been proposed to demonstrate allelopathy under controlled lab conditions. However, many lab bioassays have little or no correspondence to field interaction, which may be due to dissimilarity of the conditions of lab bioassay to natural conditions, lack of standardized techniques, or absence of critical controls. Here we discuss several lab bioassays presently used in allelopathic research for their suitability to demonstrate allelopathy of ecological relevance. We recommend avoiding certain practices, such as grinding plant material to evaluate allelopathic potential and isolation of allelochemicals, using seed germination as the only criterion of growth response, using sand, agar, or autoclaved soil, using organic solvents as extractants in allelopathic bioassays, and eliminating microbial involvement. Care should be taken in the lab to simulate natural conditions and attention should be given to habit, habitat, and life cycle pattern of the allelopathic plants during designing of lab bioassays.     

Application of allelochemicals to agriculture.

The study of allelopathy has a long history, and its application to agricultural production has long been anticipated. Recently, researchers have found allelopathic plants that are now used as cover crops, and allelochemicals which may lead to new herbicides. This paper reviews three studies introduced in this symposium, and discusses the possible application of allelopathy to agriculture.     

Soil biota reduce allelopathic effects of the invasive Eupatorium adenophorum

Allelopathy has been hypothesized to play a role in exotic plant invasions, and study of this process can improve our understanding of how direct and indirect plant interactions influence plant community organization and ecosystem functioning. However, allelopathic effects can be highly conditional. For example allelopathic effects demonstrated in vivo can be difficult to demonstrate in field soils. Here we tested phytotoxicity of Eupatorium adenophorum (croftonweed), one of the most destructive exotic species in China, to a native plant species Brassica rapa both in sand and in native soil. Our results suggested that natural soils from different invaded habitats alleviated or eliminated the efficacy of potential allelochemicals relative to sand cultures. When that soil is sterilized, the allelopathic effects returned; suggesting that soil biota were responsible for the reduced phytotoxicity in natural soils. Neither of the two allelopathic compounds (9-Oxo-10,11-dehydroageraphorone and 9b-Hydroxyageraphorone) of E. adenophorum could be found in natural soils infested by the invader, and when those compounds were added to the soils as leachates, they showed substantial degradation after 24 hours in natural soils but not in sand. Our findings emphasize that soil biota can reduce the allelopathic effects of invaders on other plants, and therefore can reduce community invasibility. These results also suggest that soil biota may have stronger or weaker effects on allelopathic interactions depending on how allelochemicals are delivered.     

水稻化感物质抑草作用机理的分子生物学研究

水稻化感作用是通过水稻植株体向环境中释放化感物质来实现的．水稻化感物质的主要抑草作用机理有：抑制杂草种子的发芽,影响激素平衡,破坏细胞膜系统的完整性,影响光合作用和呼吸作用,干扰对营养和水分的吸收,影响蛋白质合成和基因表达等．水稻化感作用是由多基因控制的,表现为数量性状．利用分子生物学技术和化感生物检测技术等研究手段检测到了多个水稻化感作用的主效应(QTLs)位点,但不同水稻化感种质其主效应QTLs位点明显不同．通过分子辅助选择和建立近等基因系的方法对检测到的QTLs作进一步的精细定位,最终实现水稻化感抑草有利基因的克隆是今后研究的重要方向。     

苜蓿化感作用的初步研究

利用生物测定法和气相色谱 /质谱 (GC/MS)联用技术对中国北方广为种植的紫花苜蓿的化感作用进行了初步研究。结果表明 ,紫花苜蓿全草的水和 95 %乙醇浸提液对玉米和小麦种子萌发均有显著的抑制作用 ,进一步用柱层析对苜蓿浸提液进行了初步分离 ,分离组份对玉米和小麦种子萌发的影响有所变化。抑制玉米萌发的活性物质主要在弱极性的二氯甲烷组份中 ,而抑制小麦萌发的活性物质不仅存在于二氯甲烷组份中 ,也存在于水中。采用GC/MS技术 ,初步推测苜蓿的化感物质是酚和皂甙两类化合物     

Allelopathy: driving mechanisms governing its activity in agriculture

Allelopathy determines the dynamics of plant species in different environments. Understanding this biological phenomenon could help to develop applications in both natural and agricultural systems. This review summarizes the genetic and environmental characteristics that control the production and release of allelochemicals in agroecosystems. This study highlights the current understanding of the environmental changes caused by allelochemicals and summarizes the knowledge about the mechanisms of action of these compounds. Finally, it reviews novel applications of allelopathy in agricultural production systems, including the role of allelochemicals in consortia and their potential use in no-tillage cropping systems through cover crops or mulches.