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Essential oils of two Nepeta species inhibit growth and induce oxidative stress in ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) shoots in vitro

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Abstract

In vitro shoot cultures of ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.), an important weed and allergen species, were established and utilized to explore the phytotoxic effect of essential oils of Nepeta rtanjensis Diklić and Milojević, and N. cataria L. Ragweed shoots were exposed to the atmosphere enriched with volatile compounds emitted from essential oils which differ in their qualitative and quantitative nepetalactone content. Essential oil of N. rtanjensis, an endemic and critically endangered perennial in Serbia, was characterized by high amounts of 4aα,7α,7aβ-nepetalactone (trans,cis-nepetalactone), while essential oil of N. cataria, possessed high amounts of 4aα,7α,7aα-nepetalactone (cis,trans-nepetalactone). After 2 weeks of exposure to Nepeta essential oil (2 and 4 %, final nepetalactone concentrations), in vitro morphogenesis of ragweed shoots was significantly altered. Reduction in fresh weight of shoots and roots and rooting inhibition was observed together with prominent discoloration of shoots. Alterations in antioxidative defense system of ragweed shoots as a response to essential oils treatments were characterized by increased peroxidase activity and decreased catalase and superoxide dismutase activity. Generally, essential oil of N. cataria, which possesses cis,trans-stereoisomer of nepetalactone, had stronger inhibitory effect on shoot growth, catalase activity, and was more efficient in stimulating peroxidase activity. N. rtanjensis essential oil, and thus trans,cis-nepetalactone, was more efficient in inhibiting rooting and root growth, and in suppressing superoxide dismutase activity. Therefore, essential oils of N. rtanjensis and N. cataria might find another application as potential bioherbicides against highly invasive species such as ragweed.

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Abbreviations

BM:

Basal medium

BSA:

Bovine serum albumin

CAT:

Catalase

DTT:

Dithiothreitol

EDTA:

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

EO:

Essential oil

GC–FID:

Gas chromatography with flame ionization detector

GC–MS:

Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry

NBT:

Nitro blue tetrazolium chloride

NFDM:

Non-fat dry milk

PAGE:

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

PBS:

Phosphate-buffered saline

PMSF:

Phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride

POX:

Peroxidase

PVPP:

Polyvinylpolypyrrolidone

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SB:

Sample buffer

SDS:

Sodium dodecyl sulfate

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

TEMED:

Tetramethylethylenediamine

TPBS:

Tween (0.05 %) in PBS buffer

VOC:

Volatile compound

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological development (grants No. OI173024 and III 41011). The authors would like to thank Dr. Michael Birkett (Biological Chemistry and Crop Protection Department, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts., Great Britain) for providing N. cataria EO.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department for Plant Physiology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, University of Belgrade, Bul. Despota Stefana 142, 11060, Belgrade, Serbia

    Slavica Dmitrović, Suzana Živković, Jelena Boljević, Jasmina Nestorović Živković, Neda Aničić & Danijela Mišić

  2. Institute of Physics, University of Belgrade, Pregrevica 118, 11080, Belgrade, Serbia

    Mirjana Perišić & Andreja Stojić

  3. Institute for Medicinal Plants Research “Dr Josif Pančić”, University of Belgrade, Tadeuša Košćuška 1, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia

    Mihailo Ristić

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  1. Slavica Dmitrović
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  2. Mirjana Perišić
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  3. Andreja Stojić
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  4. Suzana Živković
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Correspondence to Slavica Dmitrović.

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Communicated by M. J. Reigosa.

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Dmitrović, S., Perišić, M., Stojić, A. et al. Essential oils of two Nepeta species inhibit growth and induce oxidative stress in ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) shoots in vitro. Acta Physiol Plant 37, 64 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-015-1810-2

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