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Plant growth inhibitory activity of Lycoris radiata Herb. and the possible involvement of lycorine as an allelochemical
Author(s) -
IQBAL ZAHIDA,
NASIR HABIB,
HIRADATE SYUNTARO,
FUJII YOSHIHARU
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
weed biology and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.351
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1445-6664
pISSN - 1444-6162
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-6664.2006.00217.x
Subject(s) - lycorine , biology , botany , radiata , bioassay , shoot , allelopathy , pinus radiata , amaryllidaceae , germination , ecology , vigna , alkaloid
Lycoris radiata Herb., a common medicinal plant of Far East Asia, was examined for its potential use in paddy weed control. The preliminary screening in greenhouse conditions indicated growth inhibitory activities. The emergence, root and shoot growth, and root dry weight of the bioassay species were reduced when grown in soil mixed with the leaves of L. radiata . Aqueous extracts of the fresh leaves at various concentrations inhibited the root and shoot growth of all tested plant species. To identify the active components, L. radiata ethanolic extract was subjected to bioassay‐guided fractionation, purification, and spectroscopic analysis. This process led to the isolation of lycorine as a potential allelochemical. The concentration of lycorine in the dry leaves of L. radiata is estimated to be 0.08%. It is possible that lycorine is exuded from the roots or leaches from the living or decomposing leaves, along with other numerous inhibitors, and inhibits the growth of neighboring or successional plants. These results suggest that L. radiata has the potential to inhibit plant growth and lycorine acts as one of the most important plant growth inhibitors. This plant can be grown as a ground cover plant and its dead leaves could be applied as cover mulch.