Enantioselective effects of herbicide imazapyr on Arabidopsis thaliana

Enantioselective and Synergistic Herbicidal Activities of Common Amino Acids Against Amaranthus tricolor and Echinochloa crus-galli

Amino acids have a wide range of biological activities, which usually rely on the stereoisomer presented. In this study, glycine and 21 common α-amino acids were investigated for their herbicidal property against Chinese amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor L.) and barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv.). Both d- and l-isomers, as well as a racemic mixture, were tested and found that most compounds barely inhibited germination but moderately suppressed seedling growth. Various ratios of d:l-mixture were studied and synergy between enantiomers was found. For Chinese amaranth, the most toxic d:l-mixtures were at 3:7 (for glutamine), 8:2 (for methionine), and 5:5 (for tryptophan). For barnyard grass, rac-glutamine was more toxic than the pure forms; however, d-tryptophan exhibited greater activity than racemate and l-isomer, indicating the sign of enantioselective toxicity. The mode of action was unclear, but d-tryptophan caused bleaching of leaves, indicating pigment synthesis of the grass was inhibited. The results highlighted the enantioselective and synergistic toxicity of some amino acids, which relied upon plant species, chemical structures, and concentrations. Overall, our finding clarifies the effect of stereoisomers, and provides a chemical clue of amino acid herbicides, which may be useful in the development of herbicides from natural substances.

Enantioselective Separation of 4,8-DHT and Phytotoxicity of the Enantiomers on Various Plant Species

As a candidate for bioherbicide, 4,8-dihydroxy-1-tetralone (4,8-DHT) was isolated from Caryospora callicarpa epicarp and its two enantiomers, S-(+)-isosclerone and R-(-)-regiolone, were separated by chiral high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a Chiralcel OD column with chiral stationary phase (CSP)-coated cellulose-tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate). Then, the phytotoxicity of 4,8-DHT and its enantiomers toward the seeds germination and seedling growth of the five tested plant species, including lettuce (Latuca sativa), radish (Raphanus sativus), cucumber (Cucumis sativus), onion (Allium cepa), and wheat (Triticum aestivum), were investigated and the results indicated a hormesis at low concentration of 4,8-DHT and its enantiomers, but a retardant effect at high concentration. Between the two enantiomers of 4,8-DHT, the S-(+)-isosclerone was more toxic to seeds germination and seedling growth of the five tested plant species than the R-(-)-regiolone, and also the phytotoxicity of S-(+)-isosclerone varied with different plants. For example, S-(+)-isosclerone was the most active to seedling growth of lettuce, indicating that S-(+)-isosclerone had specific effects on different organisms. Thus, all of the chirality and concentration of 4,8-DHT, as well as the affected plant species, need to be taken into consideration in the development and utilization of 4,8-DHT.

Enantioselective Phytotoxicity of Imazamox Against Maize Seedlings

There is increasing concern about the enantioselective effects of chiral herbicides. To study the enantioselective toxicity of the chiral herbicide imazamox on maize, maize seedlings (Zhengda 619, Zea mays L.) were exposed to imazamox racemate and enantiomers in hydroponic experiments. The results showed that imazamox enantiomers selectively affected maize. The effective concentration of Rac-, S- and R-imazamox that caused 50 % inhibition after 5 days treatments (EC50,5d) were 0.4212, 1.2142 and 0.2460 mg L(-1), respectively, for maize root length; 0.0002, 0.1005, 0.0032 mg L(-1), respectively, for maize root fresh weight; 0.7114, 1.4056 and 0.4530 mg L(-1), respectively, for maize shoot height; 0.6220, 1.5418, 0.2286 mg L(-1), respectively, for maize shoot fresh weight; and 0.1100, 0.3306, 0.0307 mg L(-1), respectively, for the total chlorophyll content of leaves. The root morphological parameters and root activity reflected the toxicity effects in the order R-imazamox > Rac-imazamox > S-imazamox. Maize roots were more sensitive to imazamox than maize shoots. The chiral herbicide imazamox poses enantioselective phytotoxicity on maize seedlings: the order of toxicity is R-imazamox > Rac-imazamox > S-imazamox.