Herbicidal potential of Araucaria angustifolia (Bertoloni) Otto Kuntze in lettuce seedlings in vitro

Nayara Clarete Da Penha,Priscila Pereira Botrel,Jéssica Azevedo Batista

doi:10.18406/2316-1817v12n220201429

Nayara Clarete Da Penha, Priscila Pereira Botrel + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.18406/2316-1817v12n220201429

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Abstract

Araucaria angustifolia (Bertoloni) Otto Kuntze plants are a viable source of potentially active secondary metabolites; however, deep studies and researches about the activity of these compounds are needed. The objective of this work was to assess the herbicidal activity of ethanolic extracts of plants of the species A. angustifolia in lettuce seedlings in vitro. Ethanolic extracts at different concentrations (0,0%, 12.5%, 25.0%, 50.0%, and 100.0%) were prepared using barks and leaves. A semisolid MS medium with pH adjusted to approximately 5.7 was prepared, solidified with 8g L-1 of agar, and autoclaved at 1.6atm for 20 minutes. The extracts were added to the culture medium during their preparation before the autoclaving, using an automatic pipette containing 0.1mL of A. angustifolia extract per lettuce seedling. The number of leaves per seedling, seedling height, chlorophyll content, root and shoot dry weights, and mortality percentage was determined at 20 days after inoculation. The results showed that the extract from leaves or barks of A. angustifolia plants has herbicidal activity in lettuce seedlings in vitro, and the extract concentration of 100% presented the best inhibitory results for the variables evaluated.

Highlights

Araucaria angustifolia (Bertoloni) Otto Kuntze is a typical Brazilian coniferous tree species; its trees are large and have perennial leaves and straight and almost cylindrical trunks (AQUINO, 2005)
Considering the substances already identified in the different parts of A. angustifolia plants and their biological potential, and the importance of discovering new herbicidal molecules, the objective of this work was to assess the herbicidal activity of ethanolic extracts of plants of the species A. angustifolia in lettuce seedlings in vitro
The interaction between plant parts of A. angustifolia and the different ethanolic extract concentrations was not significant for number of leaves and chlorophyll content, but it was significant for the lettuce seedling height

Summary

Introduction

Araucaria angustifolia (Bertoloni) Otto Kuntze is a typical Brazilian coniferous tree species; its trees are large and have perennial leaves and straight and almost cylindrical trunks (AQUINO, 2005). A. angustifolia belongs to the Coniferae order, Coniferopsida class, and Araucariaceae family, and it is popularly known as Brazilian pine or Parana pine (ANGELI; STAPE, 2003). This species is a viable source of potentially active secondary metabolites; deep studies and researches about the activity of these compounds are needed (ALMEIDA, 2003). According to Seccon et al (2010), the barks of A. angustifolia trees have high concentration of flavonoids, and their leaves contain proanthocyanidins (FREITAS et al, 2009).

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