Tricolorin A as a natural herbicide

Molecules. 2013 Jan 9;18(1):778-88. doi: 10.3390/molecules18010778.

Abstract

Tricolorin A acts as pre- and post-emergence plant growth inhibitor. In pre-emergence it displays broad-spectrum weed control, inhibiting germination of both monocotyledonous (Lolium mutliflorum and Triticum vulgare) and dicotyledonous (Physalis ixocarpa and Trifolium alexandrinum) seeds, being the dicotyledonous seeds the most inhibited. Tricolorin A also inhibited seedling growth, and seed respiration, and since the concentrations required for inhibiting both germination and respiration were similar, we suggest that respiration is one of its targets. Tricolorin A at 60 µM acts as a post- emergence plant growth inhibitor by reducing dry plant biomass by 62%, 37%, 33%, and 22% for L. multiflorum, T. alexandrinum, T. vulgare, and P. ixocarpa, respectively, 18 days after its application. In order to determine the potency of tricolorin A as a plant growth inhibitor, paraquat was used as control; the results indicate that tricolorin A acts as a non-selective post-emergence plant growth inhibitor similar to paraquat, since both reduced the biomass production in P. ixocarpa and T. alexandrinum. Therefore, we suggest that tricolorin A will be a good biodegradable herbicide for weeds.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomass
  • Germination / drug effects
  • Glycosides / pharmacology*
  • Herbicides / pharmacology*
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Lolium / drug effects
  • Lolium / growth & development
  • Lolium / metabolism
  • Paraquat / pharmacology
  • Photosynthesis / drug effects
  • Plant Weeds / drug effects
  • Plant Weeds / growth & development
  • Plant Weeds / metabolism
  • Seedlings / drug effects*
  • Seedlings / growth & development
  • Seedlings / metabolism
  • Seeds / drug effects*
  • Seeds / growth & development
  • Seeds / metabolism
  • Solanaceae / drug effects
  • Solanaceae / growth & development
  • Solanaceae / metabolism
  • Trifolium / drug effects
  • Trifolium / growth & development
  • Trifolium / metabolism
  • Triticum / drug effects
  • Triticum / growth & development
  • Triticum / metabolism
  • Weed Control

Substances

  • Glycosides
  • Herbicides
  • tricolorin A
  • Paraquat