Abstract
Cucumber seeds were germinated under various combinations of solution volume and seed number with a range of ferulic acid concentrations. At each concentration, radicle growth decreased as the relative amount of ferulic acid available per seed increased from χ (25 seeds/5 ml) to 5χ (5 seeds/5 ml) to 19χ (25 seeds/95 ml). With 2.0 mM ferulic acid in buffered solution, radicle lengths after 48 hr ranged from 71 to 47% of control. The amount of ferulic acid remaining in 2.0 mM solution after 48 hr was directly proportional to the amount initially available per seed, and ranged from 9 to 91%. Solution volume and seed number also significantly affected inhibition by vanillic acid, caffeic acid, and juglone. With 0.1 mM juglone, radicle lengths after 48 hr were 88% of control with 25 seeds/5 ml, 68% with 5 seeds/5 ml, and 56% with 25 seeds/90 ml. The data demonstrated that lower phytotoxin concentrations can produce equivalent or greater inhibitory effects than higher concentrations when the amount available per seed for uptake is greater. Equivalent inhibition of radicle growth was observed with 1.0 mM (5 seeds/5 ml) and 2.0 mM (25 seeds/5 ml) ferulic acid. Available literature on herbicides indicates that similar effects occur in greenhouse and field studies.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andersen, R.N. 1981. Increasing herbicide tolerance of soybeans (Glycine max) by increasing seeding rates.Weed Sci. 29(3):336–338.
Anderson, R.C., andLoucks, O.L. 1966. Osmotic pressure influence in germination tests for antibiosis.Science 152:771–773.
Appleby, A.P. 1985. Factors in examining fate of herbicides in soil with bioassays.Weed Sci. 33(Suppl. 2):2–6.
Bell, D.B. 1974. The influence of osmotic pressure in tests for allelopathy.Trans. Ill. State Acad. Sci. 67:312–317.
Blum, U., Dalton, B.R., andRawlings, J.O. 1984. Effects of ferulic acid and some of its microbial metabolic products on radicle growth of cucumber.J. Chem. Ecol. 10(8):1169–1191.
Blum, U., Dalton, B.R., andShann, J.R. 1985. Effects of ferulic and p-coumaric acids in nutrient culture on cucumber leaf expansion as influenced by pH.J. Chem. Ecol. 11(11):1567–1582.
Burrill, L.C., andAppleby, A.P. 1978. Influence of Italian ryegrass density on efficacy of diuron herbicide.Agron. J. 70:505–506.
Cameron, H.J., andJulian, G.R. 1980. Inhibition of protein synthesis in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) by allelopathic compounds.J. Chem. Ecol. 6(6):989–995.
Dekker, J.H., Meggitt, W.F., andPutnam, A.R. 1983. Experimental methodologies to evaluate allelopathic plant interactions: TheAbutilon theophrasti-Glycine max model.J. Chem. Ecol. 9(8):945–989.
Einhellig, F.A., Leather, G.R., andHobbs, L.L. 1985. Use ofLemna minor L. as a bioassay in allelopathy.J. Chem. Ecol. 11(1):65–72.
Guenzi, W.D., andMcCALLA, T.M. 1966. Phenolic acids in oats, wheat, sorghum, and corn residues and their phytotoxicity.Agron. J. 58:303–304.
Harper, J.L. 1977. Population Biology of Plants. Academic Press, New York.
Harper, J.R., andBalke, N.E. 1981. Characterization of the inhibition of K+ absorption in oat roots by salicylic acid.Plant Physiol. 68:1349–1353.
Hoffman, D.W., andLaw, T.L. 1978. Plant competition for atrazine.Weed Sci. 26(1):94–99.
Khedir, K.D., andRoeth, F.W. 1981. Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) seed populations in six continuous corn (Zea Mays) fields.Weed Sci. 29(4):485–490.
Kira, T., Ogawa, H., andSakazaki, N. 1953. Intraspecific competition among higher plants, I. Competition-density yield interrelationship in regularly dispersed populations.J. Inst. Polytech. Osaka City Univ. D4:1–16.
Liebl, R.A., andWorsham, A.D. 1983. Inhibition of pitted morning glory (Ipomoea lacunosa L.) and certain other weed species by phytotoxic components of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) straw.J. Chem. Ecol. 9(8):1027–1043.
Lockerman, R.H., andPutnam, A.R. 1979. Evaluation of allelopathic cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.) as an aid to weed control.Weed Sci. 27:54–57.
Lockerman, R.H., andPutnam, A.R. 1981a. Growth inhibitors in cucumber plants and seeds.J. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci. 106(4):418–422.
Lockerman, R.H., andPutnam, A.R. 1981b. Mechanisms of differential interference among cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) accessions.Bot. Gaz. 142(3):427–430.
Lodhi, M.A.K. 1975. Soil-plant phytotoxicity and its possible significance in patterning of herbaceous vegetation in a bottomland forest.Am. J. Bot. 62(6):618–622.
Lodhi, M.A.K. 1979. Allelopathic potential ofSalsola kali L. and its possible role in rapid disappearance of weedy stage during revegetation.J. Chem. Ecol. 5(3):429–437.
Putnam, A.R., andDuke, W.B. 1974. Biological suppression of weeds: Evidence for allelopathy in accessions of cucumber.Science 185:370–372.
Putnam, A.R., andDuke, W.B. 1978. Allelopathy in agroecosystems.Annu. Rev. Phytopathol. 16:431–451.
Reynolds, T. 1975. pH restraints on lettuce fruit germination.Ann. Bot. 39:797–805.
Rice, E.L. 1984. Allelopathy, 2nd ed. Academic Press, New York.
Skipper, H.D. 1966. Microbial degradation of atrazine in soils. MS thesis, Oregon State University. 59 pp.
Stowe, L.G. 1979. Allelopathy and its influence on the distribution of plants in an Illinois oldfield.J. Ecol. 67:1065–1085.
Winkle, M.E., Leavitt, J.R.C., andBurnside, O.C. 1981. Effects of weed density on herbicide absorption and bioactivity.Weed Sci. 29(4):405–409.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Weidenhamer, J.D., Morton, T.C. & Romeo, J.T. Solution volume and seed number: Often overlooked factors in allelopathic bioassays. J Chem Ecol 13, 1481–1491 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01012292
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01012292