Effect of pinene isomers on germination and growth of maize.

VANESSA A ARECO ; SILVANA FIGUEROA ; MARÍA COSA; JOSÉ DAMBOLENA; JULIO A ZYGADLO, MARIA PAULA ZUNINO,

BIOCHEMICAL SYSTEMATICS AND ECOLOGY

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2014 vol. 55 p. 27 - 33

0305-1978

Terpenes, secondary metabolites which are present in essential oils of aromatic plants, are 3 responsible for the biochemical interaction between plants, known as allelopathy. 4 Monoterpenes are major components of the essential oils. Pinene is a monoterpene known for 5 its phytotoxic action, but little is known about the allelopathic effect of their isomers. The aim 6 of this study was to determine the effect of structural isomers and enantioisomers of pinene [(- 7 )-α-pinene; (+)-α-pinene; (-)-β-pinene and (+)-β-pinene] at 0.16 mM, on certain physiological 8 parameters (growth, dry weight, phenol, photosynthetic pigments and abscisic acid content) in 9 both germination and growth of maize (Zea mays L.). In germination bioassays, both α-pinene 10 stereoisomers did not show changes compared to control in seed vigour, but the root growth 11 was increased. While β-pinene (racemic mixture), inhibited germination and plant length. In 12 growth bioassay, all pinene isomers decreased the plant length. In general, β-pinene terpene 13 was more phytotoxic than α-pinene in both bioassays. Differences in germination and growth 14 of maize treated with the pinene isomers are likely due to different mechanisms of action