Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytotoxic activity of aqueous extracts from mature leaves, stem bark and roots of Drimys brasiliensis Miers on germination and initial seedling development of two target species, Triticum aestivum L. (wheat) and Raphanus sativus L. (radish). The aqueous extract was prepared in a proportion of 10 g of plant powder, dissolved in 100 mL of distilled water, resulting in a 10% extract concentrate. Dilutions were made with distilled water to 7.5; 5.0; 2.5% and 0% (control). Germination and seedling growth bioassays were carried out under controlled laboratory conditions. The different plant parts exerted inhibitory effects on germination and early growth of wheat and radish, however, the extract obtained from the leaves was more effective in inhibiting the germination of radish. All plant parts of D. brasiliensis may constitute a promising source in the search for compounds capable of acting as natural phytotoxins.
Highlights
During evolutionary history, plants have developed biosynthetic routes to synthesize and accumulate a wide variety of secondary metabolites; these routes respond to the characteristics of the environment where they occur (CALLAWAY, 2002)
Within a single species, the amount may vary among different plant parts, as noted by Gatti et al (2010) in Aristolochia esperanzae O
Different plant parts of D. brasiliensis subsp. brasiliensis were collected from plants occurring in the reserve area of cerrado "sensu strictu" on the campus of São Carlos Federal University (UFSCar) in São Carlos-SP (22° 02' S and 47° 52' W), Brazil
Summary
Plants have developed biosynthetic routes to synthesize and accumulate a wide variety of secondary metabolites; these routes respond to the characteristics of the environment where they occur (CALLAWAY, 2002). Many of these natural products play an important role in the interaction between plants with their environment and in particular, with their biotic environment, where they may serve as attractants for pollinators or seed dispersers, as a defense against natural enemies, or as allelochemicals against other plant competitors (KROYMANN, 2011). The most commonly observed effects are a delay in germination time, atrophy and thickened root, root growth reduction, primary or secondary root absence and hypocotyl growth reduction (GATTI et al, 2010; GUSMAN et al, 2011; GRISI et al, 2012; SILVESTRE et al, 2013)
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