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Occurence of eugenol, coniferyl alcohol and 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenol in common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) and their biological activity

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Abstract

Common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) is well known as a weed suppressing crop due to its strong competitive and allelopathic characteristics. The possible allelopathic compounds in buckwheat include compounds from different groups, such as flavonoids, fatty acids, phenolic acids, etc. Less attention has been paid to other phenolic compounds, specifically eugenol, o-eugenol, coniferyl alcohol and 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenol as possible allelochemicals. The effects of eugenol, o-eugenol, coniferyl alcohol, and 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenol on germination and plant growth were tested on seven plant species. The results of our study showed that eugenols, coniferyl alcohol, or 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenol are minority components of the buckwheat plant. Eugenol reached the highest concentration (1.16μg/g DW in buckwheat leaves) from these compounds and they probably do not have a significant function in the allelopathy of common buckwheat. However, due to the inhibitory effects on germination and plant growth, eugenol could be utilized in the plant protection of sustainable agriculture.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the grants from the Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic (MSM 6007665806) and by a research intention of ISBE AS CR (AV0Z60870520).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia, Studentska 13, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic

    Jana Kalinova

  2. Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Systems Biology and Ecology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Branisovska 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic

    Jan Triska & Nadezda Vrchotova

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  1. Jana Kalinova
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  2. Jan Triska
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  3. Nadezda Vrchotova
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Correspondence to Jana Kalinova.

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Communicated by S. Weidner.

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Kalinova, J., Triska, J. & Vrchotova, N. Occurence of eugenol, coniferyl alcohol and 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenol in common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) and their biological activity. Acta Physiol Plant 33, 1679–1685 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-010-0704-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-010-0704-6

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