Allelopathic activity of phenolic compounds isolated from sugarcane leaves

SAMPIETRO, D.A.; VATTUONE, M.A.; ISLA, M. I.

Tucumán (Argentina)

Congreso; XVII Annual Meeting of Tucuman Biology Society; 2001

Tucuman Biology Society (publicado en Bio Cell 25 (1), 82, 2001)

The purpose of this work is the identification of the compounds responsible of the allelopathic effect of sugarcane var. Tuc 77-42. Concentrated aqueous extracts of Tuc 77-42 leaves were prepared. Seeds of lettuce var Grand Rapids were treated with dilutions of these extracts. Total phenolic compounds were measured in each dilution. Reduction of root elongation was observed with increasing concentrations of phenolic compounds. Partition of aqueous extracts with organic solvents was done. Lettuce seed bioassays with the organic fraction showed a decrease in root elongation with increasing phenolic concentration. Then, concentrate aqueous extracts were used for TLC. Plates were analyzed at UV light, and sprayed with reagents for phenolic visualization. Bands were scraped, eluted and bioassayed against lettuce seeds. Some of them showed inhibitory activity. Our results indicate that var.Tuc 77-42 has an allelopathic effect against lettuce and that phenolic compounds are the responsible of it. Now we are working in the purification and identification of the responsible compounds of this activity.