Allelopathy: Sterols and sterol esters composition from maize roots treated with thymol.

M. P. ZUNINO; J. A. ZYGADLO

Curitiba. Brasil

Congreso; I Encontro Brasileiro de Ecologia Química.; 1999

Catedra de Ecologia Quimica

Abstract: It has been known that essential oils and their pure components strongly inhibit seed germination and plant growth. The purpose of this research was to know the changes over the composition of sterols and sterol esters from maize roots by thymol (phenol, 5-methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)-). maize (Zea mays L.) seed were grown in the presence of thymol for seven days in the dark. The roots were isolated from control and treated maize and analyzed for their free sterols and sterol esters composition. The presence of thymol did not affect the composition of sterols and sterol esters, whereas affected the fatty acids of sterol esters composition. The relationship of saturated/insaturated fatty acids showed differences in the first 24 hours. The individuals fatty acids presented different response. The 16:0 and 16:1 fatty acids were not altered. The 18:0 and 18:1 fatty acids increased particularly at 7 th day and for the 18:2 fatty acid was observed the opposite.