Phytotoxic Effects and Potential Allelochemicals from Water Extracts of <i>Paulownia tomentosa</i> Flower Litter

Yali Xiao; Jing Tan; Yi Yu; Jiajia Dong; Lingling Cao; Lunguang Yao; Yingjun Zhang; Zhiqiang Yan

doi:10.3390/agronomy14020367

Agronomy (Feb 2024)

Phytotoxic Effects and Potential Allelochemicals from Water Extracts of <i>Paulownia tomentosa</i> Flower Litter

Yali Xiao,
Jing Tan,
Yi Yu,
Jiajia Dong,
Lingling Cao,
Lunguang Yao,
Yingjun Zhang,
Zhiqiang Yan

Affiliations

Yali Xiao: Collaborative Innovation Center of Water Security for Water Source Region of Mid-Line of South-to-North Diversion Project of Henan Province, School of Life Sciences and Agricultural Engineering, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang 473061, China
Jing Tan: School of Economics and Management, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang 473061, China
Yi Yu: Collaborative Innovation Center of Water Security for Water Source Region of Mid-Line of South-to-North Diversion Project of Henan Province, School of Life Sciences and Agricultural Engineering, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang 473061, China
Jiajia Dong: Collaborative Innovation Center of Water Security for Water Source Region of Mid-Line of South-to-North Diversion Project of Henan Province, School of Life Sciences and Agricultural Engineering, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang 473061, China
Lingling Cao: Collaborative Innovation Center of Water Security for Water Source Region of Mid-Line of South-to-North Diversion Project of Henan Province, School of Life Sciences and Agricultural Engineering, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang 473061, China
Lunguang Yao: Henan Field Observation and Research Station of Headwork Wetland Ecosystem of the Central Route of South-to-North Water Diversion Project, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang 473061, China
Yingjun Zhang: Henan Engineering Technology Research Center for Mushroom-Based Foods, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang 473061, China
Zhiqiang Yan: Collaborative Innovation Center of Water Security for Water Source Region of Mid-Line of South-to-North Diversion Project of Henan Province, School of Life Sciences and Agricultural Engineering, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang 473061, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14020367
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14, no. 2
p. 367

Abstract

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Flowers of Paulownia spp. wither and fall on a large scale after blooming in spring and have potential allelopathic effects on surrounding plants, including crops and weeds. In this study, the phytotoxic effects of water extracts of Paulownia tomentosa flower litter (EPF) on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), green bristlegrass (Setaria viridis L.) and purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) were evaluated in the laboratory. The mode of action of the phytotoxicity of EPF on lettuce seedlings was studied and the secondary metabolites in EPF were analyzed by liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). The results show that EPF significantly inhibited the seed germination and seedling growth of four target plants in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, EPF could induce the excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) flowing with oxidative damage of the lipid bilayer of the biofilm, resulting in reduced cell viability and even apoptosis in lettuce. There were 66 secondary metabolites identified by LC-HRMS in P. tomentosa flowers. Among them, 10 compounds, including salicylic acid, caffeic acid, parthenolide, 7-hydroxycoumarin and abscisic acid (ABA), were all known allelochemicals. In summary, P. tomentosa flower litter displayed significant allelopathic effects, which were related to the accumulation of ROS in target plants. Phenolic acids, flavonoids as well as ABA are probably the main allelochemicals of P. tomentosa flowers.

Published in Agronomy

ISSN: 2073-4395 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Agriculture
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy

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