Abstract
The basis for differential allelopathic potentials among sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) hybrids was investigated by conducting quantitative and qualitative studies of their phenolic contents. Total phenolic content in sorghum plant parts varied within hybrids, among hybrids, and between growing seasons. Inhibition of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) radicle growth was positively associated (r=0.66) with concentrations of total phenolics contained in plant parts. Extracts from culms contributed the higherst proportion of toxicity from sorghum plants, inhibiting radicle growth up to 74.7%. Concentrations of five phenolic acids,p-hydroxybenzoic (POH), vanillic (VAN), syringic (SYR),p-coumaric (PCO), and ferulic (FER), differed in all plant parts of the three sorghum hybrids. Concentrations of POH, VAN, and SYR were consistently higher than PCO and FER. PCO and FER wer absent from some plant parts, with FER being the most frequently missing. Inhibition of wheat radicle growth was found to be positively associated with the concentration of each phenolic acid. Vanillic acid was most highly associated (r=0.44) with inhition. Thus, above-ground sorghum tissues contained phenolic acids that contributed to allelopathic potential. Additionally, sorghum roots exuded POH, VAN, and SYR that may enhance the overall allelopathic potential of sorghum during growth and after harvest when residues remain on the soil surface or are incorporated prior to planting a subsquent crop.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
A.O.A.C. 1990. Official Methods of Analysis of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists. Tannin. 15th ed. Washington, D.C. p. 746.
Abdul-Rahman, A.A., andHabib, S.A. 1989. Allelopathic effect of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) on bladygrass (Imperata cylindrica).J. Chem. Ecol. 15:2289–2300.
Alsaadawi, I.S., Al-uqaili, J.K., Alrubeaa, A.J. andAl-hadithy, S.M. 1986. Allelopathic suppression of weeds and nitrification by selected cultivars ofSorghum bicolor (L.) Molench.J. Chem. Ecol. 12:209–219.
Ben-Hammouda, M. 1994. Differential allelopathic potential of sorghum hybrids on wheat. PhD dissertation. University of Missouri, Columbia.
Blum, U., Wentworth, T.R., Klein, K., Worsham, A.D., King, L.D., Gerig, T.M., andLyu, S.W. 1991. Phenolic acid content of soils from wheat-no till, wheat-conventional till, and fallow-conventional till soybean cropping systems.J. Chem. Ecol. 17:1045–1067.
Cherney, D.J.R., Patterson, J.A., Cherney, J.H., andAxtell, J.D. 1991. Fibre and soluble phenolic monomer composition of morphological components of sorghum stover.J. Sci. Food Agric. 54:645–649.
Chou, 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.
Einhellig, F.A., andSouza, I.F. 1992. Phytotoxicity of sorgoleone found in grain sorghum root exudates.J. Chem. Ecol. 18:1–11.
Einhellig, F.A., Muth, M.S., andSchon, M.K. 1985. Effects of allelochemicals on plant-water relationships, pp. 179–195,in A.C. Thomson (ed.). The Chemistry of Allelopathy. American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C.
Guenzi, W.D., andMcCalla, T.M. 1966. Phenolic acids in oat, wheat, sorghum, and corn residues and their phytotoxicity.Agron. J. 58:303–304.
Haslam, E. 1988. Plant polyphenols (syn. vegetable tannins) and chemical defense—a reappraisal.J. Chem. Ecol. 14:1789–1805.
Hedge, R.S., andMiller, D.A. 1992. Scanning electron microscopy for studying root morphology and anatomy in alfalfa autotoxicity.Agron. J. 84:618–620.
Kobsa, J., andEinhellig, F.A. 1987. The effects of ferulic acid on the mineral nutrition of grain sorghum.Plant Physiol. 98:99–109.
Patterson, D.T. 1989. Effects of allelopathic chemicals on growth and physiological responses of soybean (Glycine max).Weed Sci. 29:53–59.
Rasmussen, J.A., andEinhellig, F.A. 1979. Inhibitory effects of combinations of three phenolic acids on grain sorghum germination.Plant Sci. Lett. 14:69–74.
Read, J.J., andJensen, E.H. 1989. Phytotoxicity of water-soluble substances from alfalfa and barley soil extracts on four crop species.J. Chem. Ecol. 15:619–628.
Reed, J.D., andTedla, A. 1987. Phenolics, fibre and fibre digestibility in the crop residue from bird resistant and non-bird resistant sorghum varieties.J. Sci. Food Agri. 39:113–121.
Taiz, L., andZeiger, E. 1991. Plant Physiology. Benjamin/Cummings Publishing, Redwood City, California.
Tang, C.-S., andYoung, C.C. 1982. Collection and identification of allelopathic compounds from the undisturbed root system of bigalta limpograss (Hemarthria altissima).Plant Physiol. 69:155–160.
Waniska, R.D., Ring, A.S., Doherty, C.A., Poe, J.H., andRooney, L.W. 1988. Inhbitors in sorghum biomass during growth and processing into fuel.Biomass 15:155–164.
Whitehead, D.C. 1964. Identification of hydroxybenzoic, vanillic, coumaric and ferulic acids in soils.Nature 202:417–418.
Woodhead, S. 1981. Environmental and biotic factors affecting the phenolic content of different cultivars ofSorghum bicolor.J. Chem. Ecol. 7:1035–1047.
Woodhead, S., andCooper-Driver, G. 1979. Phenolic acids and resistance to insect attack inSorghum bicolor.Biochem. Syst. Ecol. 7:309–310.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Journal article No. 12245 of the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station. Product names are necessary to report factually on available data; however, the USDA neither guarantees nor warrants the standard of the products, and the use of names by USDA implies no approval of the products to the exclusion of others that may be suitable.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ben-Hammouda, M., Kremer, R.J., Minor, H.C. et al. A chemical basis for differential allelopathic potential of sorghum hybrids on wheat. J Chem Ecol 21, 775–786 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02033460
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02033460