Abstract
Experiments were designed to test the hypothesis that interference with chlorophyll metabolism may be one mechanism of inhibition of plant growth in allelopathic interactions. Effects of ferulic,p-coumaric, and vanillic acids on soybean and grain sorghum growth and chlorophyll content were quantified and compared after seedlings were treated with these compounds in a nutrient culture. Following a 6-day treatment cycle, dry weights of soybean seedlings were reduced by both 10−3 M and 5 × 10−4 M treatments of ferulic,p-coumaric and vanillic acids. Soybean weight reductions in each case were paralleled by a significant reduction in the concentration (μg Chl/mg dry wt) of chlorophylls a and b and total chlorophyll in the unifoliate leaves. Sorghum seedling growth was also reduced by each of the compounds at the 5 × 10−4 M level, but leaf chlorophyll concentration was not below that of control plants.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Buttery, B.R., andBuzzell, R.I. 1977. The relationship between chlorophyll content and rate of photosynthesis in soybeans.Can. J. Plant Sci. 57:1–5.
Colton, C.E. 1978. Allelopathic mechanisms ofAbutilon theophrasti Medic. MA thesis, University of South Dakota, Vermillion.
Danks, M.L., Fletcher, J.S., andRice, E.L. 1975. Effects of phenolic inhibitors on growth and metabolism of glucose-UL-14C in Paul's scarlet rose cell-suspension cultures.Am. J. Bot. 62:311–317.
Demos, I.K., Woolwine, M., Wilson, R.H., andMcMillan, C. 1975. The effects of ten phenolic compounds on hypocotyl growth and mitochondrial metabolism of mung bean.Am. J. Bot. 62:97–102.
Einhellig, F.A. 1971. Effects of tannic acid on growth and stomatal aperture in tobacco.Proc. S.D. Acad. Sci. 50:205–209.
Einhellig, F.A., andKuan, L.Y. 1971. Effects of scopoletin and chlorogenic acid on stomatal aperture in tobacco and sunflower.Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 98:155–162.
Einhellig, F.A., andRasmussen, J.A. 1973. Allelopathic effects ofRumex crispus onAmaranthus retroflexus, grain sorghum, and field corn.Am. Midl. Nat. 90:79–86.
Einhellig, F.A., andRasmussen, J.A. 1978. Synergistic inhibitory effects of vanillic andp-hydroxybenzoic acids on radish and grain sorghum.J. Chem. Ecol. 4:425–436.
Einhellig, F.A., Rice, E.L., Risser, P.G., andWender, S.H. 1970. Effects of scopoletin on growth, CO2 exchange rates, and concentration of scopoletin, scopolin, and chlorogenic acids in tobacco, sunflower, and pigweed.Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 97:22–33.
Glass, A.D.M. 1973. Influence of phenolic acids on ion uptake. I. Inhibition of phosphate uptake.Plant Physiol. 51:1037–1041.
Glass, A.D.M., andDunlap, J. 1974. Influence of phenolic acids on ion uptake. IV. Depolarization of membrane potentials.Plant Physiol. 54:855–858.
Hoagland, D.R., andArnon, D.I. 1950. The water-culture method for growing plants without soil.Calif. Agric. Exp. Stn. Circ. No. 347.
Kadlec, K.D. 1973. Para coumaric and caffeic acid induced inhibition of growth, photosynthetic and transpiration rates in grain sorghum. MA thesis, University of South Dakota, Vermillion.
Koeppe, D.E. 1972. Some reactions of isolated corn mitochondria influenced by juglone.Physiol. Plant. 27:89–94.
Knudson, L.L., Tibbitts, T.W., andEdwards, G.E. 1977. Measurement of ozone injury by determination of leaf chlorophyll concentration.Plant Physiol. 60:606–608.
Linnane, A.E., andStewart, P.R. 1967. The inhibition of chlorophyll formation in Euglena by antibiotics which inhibit bacterial and mitochondrial protein synthesis.Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 27:511–516.
Lodhi, M.A.K., andNickell, G.L. 1973. Effects of leaf extracts ofCeltis laevigata on growth, water content, and carbon dioxide exchange rates of three grass species.Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 100:159–165.
National Academy of Sciences. 1971. Biochemical Interactions among Plants. U.S. Natl. Comm. for IBP, eds. 135 pp.
Parks, J.M., andRice, E.L. 1969. Effects of certain plants of old-field succession on the growth of blue-green algae.Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 96:345–360.
Rasmussen, J.A., andEinhellig, F.A. 1975. Noncompetitive effects of common milkweed,Asclepias syriaca L., on germination and growth of grain sorghum.Am. Midl. Nat. 94:478–483.
Rasmussen, J.A., andEinhellig, F.A. 1977. Synergistic inhibitory effects ofp-coumaric and ferulic acids on germination and growth of grain sorghum.J. Chem. Ecol. 3:197–205.
Rice, E.L. 1974. Allelopathy. Academic Press, New York. 353 pp.
Van Sumere, C.F., Cottenie, J., DeGreef, J., andKint, J. 1971. Biochemical studies in relation to the possible germination regulatory role of naturally occurring coumarin and phenolics.Rec. Adv. Phytochem. 4:165–221.
Walters, D.T., andGilmore, A.R. 1976. Allelopathic effects of fescue on the growth of sweetgum.J. Chem. Ecol. 2:469–479.
Whittaker, R.J., andFeeny, P.P. 1971. Allelochemics: Chemical interactions between species.Science 171:757–770.
Wilson, R.E., andRice, E.L. 1968. Allelopathy as expressed byHelianthus annuus and its role in old-field succession.Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 95:432–448.
Wintermans, J.F.G.M., andDeMots, A. 1965. Spectrophotometry characteristics of chlorophylls a and b and their pheophytins in ethanol.Biochim. Biophys. Acta 109:448–453.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Einhellig, F.A., Rasmussen, J.A. Effects of three phenolic acids on chlorophyll content and growth of soybean and grain sorghum seedlings. J Chem Ecol 5, 815–824 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00986566
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00986566