Abstract
Quinate (1,3,4,5-tetrahydroxycyclohexanecarboxylate) is a compound synthesized in plants through a side-branch of the shikimate biosynthesis pathway, which is accumulated after glyphosate and acetolactate synthase inhibiting herbicides (ALS-inhibitors) and has phytotoxic potential. The objective of this study was to evaluate the phytotoxicity of quinate on several weed species. Among the species evaluated, Cynodon dactylon, Bromus diandrus, Lolium rigidum, Sinapis alba, and Papaver rhoeas, P. rhoeas was the most sensitive, and its growth was controlled with quinate concentrations above 100 mM at the phenological stage of 6–8 true leaves. A physiological study, including the shikimate pathway and the physiological markers of ALS-inhibitors (carbohydrates and amino acids), was performed in the sensitive and resistant plants treated with sulfonylureas or quinate. The typical physiological effects of ALS-inhibitors were detected in the sensitive population (free amino acid and carbohydrate accumulation) and not detected in the resistant population. The mode of action of quinate appeared to be related to general perturbations in their carbon/nitrogen metabolism rather than to specific changes in the shikimate pathway. These results suggest the possibility of using quinate in the weed control management of P. rhoeas.
Highlights
Two groups of herbicides that inhibit amino acid biosynthesis are among the most important herbicidal modes of action in global market value [1]
The biotest showed that L. rigidum, S. alba, and P. rhoeas aboveground fresh biomass was 79%, 84%, and 12% of the control, respectively, and similar growth values were obtained in the dry weight per unit area (Table 1), which showed that their growth was affected by the presence of the quinate
The phytotoxic effects of quinate reported in this study suggest that it may be a potential active compound for the development of alternative herbicides based on natural products
Summary
Two groups of herbicides that inhibit amino acid biosynthesis are among the most important herbicidal modes of action in global market value [1]. The target site of each herbicide group is different, several physiological effects common to both glyphosate and ALS-inhibitors have been reported, including a general increase in the total free amino acids [4] and carbohydrate content [5,6]. Another common effect is the accumulation of quinate in the leaves of plants treated with both types of herbicides [7]. Quinate (1,3,4,5-tetrahydroxycyclohexanecarboxylic acid) is formed in a branch pathway of the shikimate pathway, and it is considered a reserve compound of the pathway [8]
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