Chapter 13. Bioassays with whole plants and plant organs

SAMPIETRO, D. A.; QUIROGA, E. N.; SOBERÓN, J. R.; SGARIGLIA, M. A.; VATTUONE, M. A.

Isolation, Identification and Characterization of allelochemicals/Natural Products

Science Publishers Inc.

Lugar: Einfield, New Hampshire, USA.; Año: 2009; p. 377 - 398

Assays of whole plant or plant organs consist in the exposure of plant materials to allelochemicals under controlled conditions. They are often applied for better comprenhension of plant-plant interactions, identification of new growth regulators or characterization of new structure-activity relationships. Some of these assays are inexpensive, no time consuming and provide valuable qualitative and quantitative data. Control of assay conditions allows to separate the allelochemical effects from natural environmental interference and/or to evaluate the influence of specific environmental conditions on allelochemical activity. This chapter describes assays to test the biological effect of allelochemicals on whole plant and plant organs. Assays for seed germination and postgermination, general plant growth parameters and some cellular processes are provided.