Streptomyces is an effective source of new natural bioherbicides. In this study, a novel isolated strain NEAU-HV44 showed strong inhibitory activity against Amaranthus retroflexus L. and was concluded to the genus Streptomyces. Strain NEAU-HV44 fermentation conditions were optimized to maximize the herbicidal activity. The supernatant of strain NEAU-HV44 could significantly control the growth of weeds (A. retroflexus L., Setaria viridis, Portulaca oleracea L., and Chenopodium album) and crops (maize, soybean, wheat, Chinese cabbage, cucumber, tomato, and romaine lettuce) with dose-dependent in preemergence. Notably, weeds were more sensitive to a low-concentration supernatant extract than crops in preemergence. In postemergence, the 2 mg mL-1 supernatant extract could significantly reduce the height and >50% biomass (fresh weight) of tested weeds. The supernatant extract could cause cell membrane destabilization and the cell death of weeds. In addition, the growth of tomato was also inhibited at a high concentration, but no obvious symptoms were observed on soybean and romaine lettuce after spraying the supernatant extract. Then two novel julichrome monomers, julichromes Q12 (1) and Q13 (2), and two known julichromes, julichrome Q3.3 (3) and julichrome Q3.5 (4), were isolated from the supernatant extract of strain NEAU-HV44 by bioactivity-guided approach. This is the first report of the herbicidal activity of julichromes. These four herbicidal compounds could inhibit the shoot and root growth of weeds at 0.2 mg mL-1, and compound 4 could completely inhibit the growth of P. oleracea L. Thus, julichromes (Q12, Q13, Q3.3, Q3.5 1-4) may be new bioherbicidal candidates.
Keywords: Streptomyces sp.; bioherbicidal activity; crops; julichromes; weeds.