Abstract
Effects of 3-pentanone and eight low molecular weight aliphatic alcohols and aldehydes identifed in the mixtures of volatiles released byAmaranthus palmeri S. Wats. (AMAPA) residues were determined on germination of onion, carrot, AMAPA, and tomato seeds. Three-day exposures to these volatiles significantly inhibited germination of these assay seeds, and the inhibition was dependent upon exposure time and concentration. Based on the degree of inhibition observed in both time- and concentration-dependent assays, the following activity series was obtained: 2-heptanol > 3-methyl-1-butanol, 1-hexanol > hexanal, 1-pentanol, 3-pentanone, acetaldehyde > ethanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol. The activities of this group of compounds with that of 2-heptanone appear to be additive and related to test compound volatility and hydrophilicity. 2-Heptanol and 2-heptanone also significantly inhibited the germination of other species, including shepherdspurse, soybean, lettuce, alfalfa, common purslane, oats, and lovegrass.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bradow, J.M. 1985. Germination regulation byAmaranthus palmeri andAmbrosia artemisiifolia, pp. 285–299,in A.C. Thompson (ed.). The Chemistry of Allelopathy: Biochemical Interactions Among Plants, ACS Symposium Series 268. American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C.
Bradow, J.M., andConnick, W.J., Jr. 1987. Allelochemicals from Palmer amaranth,Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats.J. Chem. Ecol. 13:185–202.
Bradow, J.M., andConnick, W.J., Jr. 1988. Volatile methyl ketone seed-germination inhibitors fromAmaranthus palmeri S. Wats, residues.J. Chem. Ecol. 14:1617–1631.
Buttery, R.G., Ling, L.C., andGuadagni, D.G. 1969. Volatilities of aldehydes, ketones, and esters in dilute water solution.J. Agric. Food Chem. 17:385–389.
Buttery, R.G., Ling, L.C., andChan, B. 1978. Volatiles of corn kernels and husks: Possible corn ear worm attractants.J. Agric. Food chem. 26:866–869.
Buttery, R.G., Xu, C.-J., andLing, L.C. 1985. Volatile components of wheat leaves (and stems): Possible insect attractants.J. Agric. Food Chem. 33:115–116.
Connick, W.J., Jr., Bradow, J.M., Legendre, M.G., Vail, S.L., andMenges, R.M. 1987. Identification of volatile allelochemicals fromAmaranthus palmeri S. Wats.J. Chem. Ecol. 13:463–472.
Fisher, N.H., andQuijano, L. 1985. Allelopathic agents from common weeds:Amaranthus palmeri, Ambrosia artemlsiifolia and related weeds, pp. 133–148,in A.C. Thompson (ed.). The Chemistry of Allelopathy: Biochemical Interactions Among Plants, ACS Symposium Series 268. American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C.
Flath, R.A., Forrey, R., John, J., andChan, B. 1978. Volatile components of corn silk (Zea mays L.): PossibleHeliothis tea (Boddie) attractants.J. Agric. Food Chem. 26:1290–1293.
French, R.C., andLeather, G.R. 1979. Screening of nonanal and related volatile flavor compounds on the germination of 18 species of weed seed.J. Agric. Food Chem. 27:828–832.
Hendrix, P.P., Parmelee, R.W., Crossley, D.A., Jr., Coleman, D.C., Odum, E.P., andGroffman, P.M. 1986. Detritus food webs in conventional and no-tillage agroecosystems.Bioscience 36:374–380.
Johnson, A.E.,Nursten, H.E., andWilliams, A.A. 1971a. Vegetable volatiles: A survey of components identified—Part I.Chem. Ind. London 556–565.
Johnson, A.E.,Nursten, H.E., andWilliams A.A. 1971b. Vegetable volatiles: A survey of components identified: Part II.Chem. Ind. London 1212–1224.
Lundgren, L., Norelius, G., andStenhagen, G. 1985. Leaf volatiles from some wild tomato species.Nord. J. Bot. 5:315–320.
Menges, R.M. 1985. Allelopathy of soil residues ofAmaranthus palmeri S. Wats.Annu. Meet. Weed Sci. Soc. Am. p.61 (abstract).
Ninneman, H., andJüttner, F. 1981. Volatile substances from tissue cultures of potato, tomato and their somatic fusion products-comparison of gas Chromatographic patterns for identification of hybrids.Zeit. Pflazenphysiol. 103:94–107.
Purvis, C.E., Jessop, R.S., andLovett, J.V. 1985. Selective regulation of germination and growth of annual weeds by crop residues.Weed Res. 25:415–421.
Reynolds, T. 1977. Comparative efforts of aliphatic compounds of inhibition of lettuce fruit germination.Ann. Bot. 41:637–648.
Sokal, R.R., andRohlf, F.J. 1981. Biometry. W.H. Freeman, San Francisco.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Name of companies or commercial products are given solely for the purpose of providing specific information; their mention does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture over others not mentioned.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bradow, J.M., Connick, W.J. Seed-germination inhibition by volatile alcohols and other compounds associated withAmaranthus palmeri residues. J Chem Ecol 14, 1633–1648 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01012528
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01012528