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Dear Colleagues,

Phytotoxic substances are one of the main sources for the development of new active molecules with potential utilization in pharmacology, agriculture, and other fields. Much research on phytotoxic substances has been directed toward the isolation and characterization, evaluation of activity, mode of action, biosynthesis, degradation, synthesis, and application of the compounds. Information on phytotoxic substances has accumulated in the literature over the centuries. Despite the tremendous growth in the research in phytotoxic substances, though, there may still be unknown substances in certain plant species. Determination of the genetic and biosynthetic pathways of phytotoxic substances is also challenging.

Some methodologies have greatly contributed to the progress in science, such as the case of Arabidopsis thliana. This species was used as a test plant for the evaluation of phytotoxic activity of the compounds because of its genetic information. Another progressive case in the research of phytotoxic substances was the evaluation of the action modes of active oxygen species. These remarkable examples have stimulated and inspired researchers working on the phytotoxic substances. Thus, new information and methodologies can be a potential source of significant findings for researchers in the near future. The aim of this Special Issue is to contribute to the better understanding of phytotoxic substances by introducing exciting discoveries and significant examples.

Dr. Hisashi Kato-Noguchi
Guest Editor

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Keywords

activity
application
biosynthesis
characterization
mode of action

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1971 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phytotoxic Activity and Growth Inhibitory Substances from Albizia richardiana (Voigt.) King & Prain

by Kawsar Hossen, Arihiro Iwasaki, Kiyotake Suenaga and Hisashi Kato-Noguchi

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(4), 1455; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11041455 - 05 Feb 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2153

Abstract

Albizia richardiana, a fast-growing, large deciduous tree belonging to the Fabaceae family, grows well in hot and humid areas but mainly grows in the tropics of the Old World. The medicinal and other uses of Albizia richardiana are well documented, but the phytotoxic effects of this tree have not yet been investigated. We conducted this study to investigate the phytotoxic activity of Albizia richardiana leaves and to identify growth inhibitory substances for controlling weeds in a sustainable way. Aqueous methanol extracts of Albizia richardiana leaves greatly suppressed the growth of cress and barnyard grass seedlings in a concentration- and species-dependent manner. Two phytotoxic substances were separated using several purification steps and characterized through spectral analysis as dehydrovomifoliol and loliolide. Dehydrovomifoliol and loliolide significantly arrested the seedling growth of cress in the concentrations of 0.1 and 0.01 mM, respectively. The extract concentrations needed for 50% growth inhibition (I₅₀ values) of cress seedlings were 3.16–3.01 mM for dehydrovomifoliol and 0.03–0.02 mM for loliolide. The results suggest that these two allelopathic substances might play a vital role in the phytotoxicity of Albizia richardiana leaves. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytotoxic Substances: Characterization, Activity, and Application)

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Review

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11 pages, 768 KiB

Open AccessReview

Phytotoxic Substances Involved in Teak Allelopathy and Agroforestry

by Hisashi Kato-Noguchi

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(8), 3314; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11083314 - 07 Apr 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3257

Abstract

Teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) is one of the most valuable timber species, and is cultivated in agroforestry systems in many countries across the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The species is also one of the most essential trees in home gardens in South Asia due to its wood quality and medicinal value in folk remedies. It is a deciduous tree species, and the amount of litter that falls from teak trees is huge. The decomposition rate of the litter is relatively fast in tropical humid conditions. The interactions between teak and weeds, or crops, under the teak trees have been evaluated in terms of allelopathy. Evidence of allelopathy is documented in the literature over the decades. The leachate and extracts of teak leaves suppress the germination and growth of several other plant species. Phytotoxic substances, such as phenolics, benzofurans, quinones, terpens, apocarotenoids and phenylpropanoids, in the teak leaves, were isolated and identified. Some phytotoxic substances may be released into the soil under teak trees from leaf leachate and the decomposition of the litters, which accumulate by annual leaf fall and can affect the germination and growth of undergrowth plant species as allelopathic substances. The allelopathy of teak is potentially useful for weed management options in agroforestry and other agriculture systems to reduce commercial herbicide dependency. It was also reported that agroforestry systems with teak enhance income through the production of crops and woods, and provide energy efficiency for crop cultivation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytotoxic Substances: Characterization, Activity, and Application)

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