Abstract
Deer, particularly white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), damage row crops such as soybean (Glycine max L.) and are a perceived problem in the continental US. Currently, the only widely used technique to control deer from crop browsing is establishment of fences, which is expensive, labor intensive, and most of the time ineffective. Studies have shown that sicklepod, Senna obtusifolia (L.), contains anthraquinone derivatives, which in separate studies were shown to be toxic to cattle, rats, rabbits, and horses, and repel herbivores primarily birds. However, information of the deer-repelling property of anthraquinone in sicklepod is lacking. Field tests conducted at our Captive Deer Facility at MississippiStateUniversity(MSU) confirmed the deer-repelling property of anthraquinone extracts from sicklepod. Soybean plants applied with control treatment (water) were browsed by deer, while plants applied with sicklepod anthraquinone extracts were avoided. Using chromatography techniques, we found the levels of anthraquinone derivatives (chrysophanol, emodin) in sicklepod plant parts in the order: root > fruit > stem/leaf. Hydrolysis of water extracts of sicklepod seed produced high emodin concentration, suggesting emodin glycoside as the main form of anthraquinone glycoside in sicklepod seed. Deer-repelling compounds can be extracted in its pure form from sicklepod and applied on soybean to increase its repelling efficacy on deer, and at the same time protect soybean yields.
Highlights
In North America, among the wildlife species, deer, the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), is responsible for 70% of crop losses caused by wildlife [1] [2], costing farmers up to $4.53 billion each year [3]
Seed was used for this purpose for more pronounced differential peaks. These two peaks may correspond to the presence of two deer repelling compounds in sicklepod seeds which are absent in soybean seeds
The deer-repelling property of sicklepod is mainly associated with anthraquinone derivatives
Summary
In North America, among the wildlife species, deer, the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), is responsible for 70% of crop losses caused by wildlife [1] [2], costing farmers up to $4.53 billion each year [3]. Damages caused by deer have been reported in corn [4] [5] and soybean [1] [6] [7]. Current widely used techniques to control deer in row crops are establishment of fences and application of repellents [8] [9]. With increasing costs of agricultural production, the economic impact from reduced crop yield is very important, especially for smaller farms not financially prepared for poor harvest due to yield losses. It is critical to protect crop yield against deer damage
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