Dynamic root exudation of sorgoleone and its in planta mechanism of action

Profiling sorghum-microbe interactions with a specialized photoaffinity probe identifies key sorgoleone binders in Acinetobacter pittii

Interactions between plants and soil microbial communities that benefit plant growth and enhance nutrient acquisition are driven by the selective release of metabolites from plant roots, or root exudation. To investigate these plant-microbe interactions, we developed a photoaffinity probe based on sorgoleone (sorgoleone diazirine alkyne for photoaffinity labeling, SoDA-PAL), a hydrophobic secondary metabolite and allelochemical produced in Sorghum bicolor root exudates. We applied SoDA-PAL to the identification of sorgoleone-binding proteins in Acinetobacter pittii SO1, a potential plant growth-promoting microbe isolated from sorghum rhizosphere soil. Competitive photoaffinity labeling of A. pittii whole cell lysates with SoDA-PAL identified 137 statistically enriched proteins, including putative transporters, transcriptional regulators, and a subset of proteins with predicted enzymatic functions. We performed computational protein modeling and docking with sorgoleone to prioritize candidates for experimental validation and then confirmed binding of sorgoleone to four of these proteins in vitro: the α/β fold hydrolase SrgB (OH685_09420), a fumarylacetoacetase (OH685_02300), a lysophospholipase (OH685_14215), and an unannotated hypothetical protein (OH685_18625). Our application of this specialized sorgoleone-based probe coupled with structural bioinformatics streamlines the identification of microbial proteins involved in metabolite recognition, metabolism, and toxicity, widening our understanding of the range of cellular pathways that can be affected by a plant secondary metabolite.IMPORTANCEHere, we demonstrate that a photoaffinity-based chemical probe modeled after sorgoleone, an important secondary metabolite released by sorghum roots, can be used to identify microbial proteins that directly interact with sorgoleone. We applied this probe to the sorghum-associated bacterium Acinetobacter pittii and showed that probe labeling is dose-dependent and sensitive to competition with purified sorgoleone. Coupling the probe with proteomics and computational analysis facilitated the identification of putative sorgoleone binders, including a protein implicated in a conserved pathway essential for sorgoleone catabolism. We anticipate that discoveries seeded by this workflow will expand our understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which specific metabolites in root exudates shape the sorghum rhizosphere microbiome.

Selective biotic stressors' action on seed germination: A review

In the realm of plant biology and agriculture, seed germination serves as a fundamental process with far-reaching implications for crop production and environmental health. This comprehensive review seeks to unravel the intricate web of interactions between some biotic stressors and seed germination, addressing the pertinent issue of how these stressors influence seed germination. Different chemicals produced by interacting plants (different parts), fungi, bacteria, or insects can either promote or inhibit seed germination. Releasing chemicals that modulate signaling pathways and cellular processes significantly disrupt essential cellular functions. This disruption leads to diverse germination outcomes, introducing additional layers of complexity to this regulatory landscape. The chemicals perturb enzyme activity and membrane integrity, imposing unique challenges on the germination process. Understanding the mechanisms- how allelochemicals, mycotoxins, or bacterial toxins affect seed germination or the modes of action holds promise for more sustainable agricultural practices, enhanced pest control, and improved environmental outcomes. In sum, this review contributes to a fundamental exposition of the pivotal role of biotic stressors in shaping the germination of seeds.

Passive permeability controls synthesis for the allelochemical sorgoleone in sorghum root exudate

Competition for soil nutrients and water with other plants foster competition within the biosphere for access to these limited resources. The roots for the common grain sorghum produce multiple small molecules that are released via root exudates into the soil to compete with other plants. Sorgoleone is one such compound, which suppresses weed growth near sorghum by acting as a quinone analog and interferes with photosynthesis. Since sorghum also grows photosynthetically, and may be susceptible to sorgoleone action if present in tissues above ground, it is essential to exude sorgoleone efficiently. However, since the P450 enzymes that synthesize sorgoleone are intracellular, the release mechanism for sorgoleone remain unclear. In this study, we conducted an in silico assessment for sorgoleone and its precursors to passively permeate biological membranes. To facilitate accurate simulation, CHARMM parameters were newly optimized for sorgoleone and its precursors. These parameters were used to conduct 1 μs of unbiased molecular dynamics simulations to compare the permeability of sorgoleone with its precursors molecules. We find that interleaflet transfer is maximized for sorgoleone, suggesting that the precursor molecules may remain in the same leaflet for access by biosynthetic P450 enzymes. Since no sorgoleone was extracted during unbiased simulations, we compute a permeability coefficient using the inhomogeneous solubility diffusion model. The requisite free energy and diffusivity profiles for sorgoleone through a sorghum membrane model were determined through Replica Exchange Umbrella Sampling (REUS) simulations. The REUS calculations highlight that any soluble sorgoleone would quickly insert into a lipid bilayer, and would readily transit. When sorgoleone forms aggregates in root exudate as indicated by our equilibrium simulations, aggregate formation would lower the effective concentration in aqueous solution, creating a concentration gradient that would facilitate passive transport. This suggests that sorgoleone synthesis occurs within sorghum root cells and that sorgoleone is exuded by permeating through the cell membrane without the need for a transport protein once the extracellular sorgoleone aggregate is formed.

Synthetic Biology Toolbox for Nitrogen-Fixing Soil Microbes

The soil environment adjacent to plant roots, termed the rhizosphere, is home to a wide variety of microorganisms that can significantly affect the physiology of nearby plants. Microbes in the rhizosphere can provide nutrients, secrete signaling compounds, and inhibit pathogens. These processes could be manipulated with synthetic biology to enhance the agricultural performance of crops grown for food, energy, or environmental remediation, if methods can be implemented in these nonmodel microbes. A common first step for domesticating nonmodel organisms is the development of a set of genetic engineering tools, termed a synthetic biology toolbox. A toolbox comprises transformation protocols, replicating vectors, genome engineering (e.g., CRISPR/Cas9), constitutive and inducible promoter systems, and other gene expression control elements. This work validated synthetic biology toolboxes in three nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria: Azotobacter vinelandii, Stutzerimonas stutzeri (Pseudomonas stutzeri), and a new isolate of Klebsiella variicola. All three organisms were amenable to transformation and reporter protein expression, with several functional inducible systems available for each organism. S. stutzeri and K. variicola showed more reliable plasmid-based expression, resulting in successful Cas9 recombineering to create scarless deletions and insertions. Using these tools, we generated mutants with inducible nitrogenase activity and introduced heterologous genes to produce resorcinol products with relevant biological activity in the rhizosphere.

Root phenotypes for improved nitrogen capture

Background

Suboptimal nitrogen availability is a primary constraint for crop production in low-input agroecosystems, while nitrogen fertilization is a primary contributor to the energy, economic, and environmental costs of crop production in high-input agroecosystems. In this article we consider avenues to develop crops with improved nitrogen capture and reduced requirement for nitrogen fertilizer.

Scope

Intraspecific variation for an array of root phenotypes has been associated with improved nitrogen capture in cereal crops, including architectural phenotypes that colocalize root foraging with nitrogen availability in the soil; anatomical phenotypes that reduce the metabolic costs of soil exploration, improve penetration of hard soil, and exploit the rhizosphere; subcellular phenotypes that reduce the nitrogen requirement of plant tissue; molecular phenotypes exhibiting optimized nitrate uptake kinetics; and rhizosphere phenotypes that optimize associations with the rhizosphere microbiome. For each of these topics we provide examples of root phenotypes which merit attention as potential selection targets for crop improvement. Several cross-cutting issues are addressed including the importance of soil hydrology and impedance, phenotypic plasticity, integrated phenotypes, in silico modeling, and breeding strategies using high throughput phenotyping for co-optimization of multiple phenes.

Conclusions

Substantial phenotypic variation exists in crop germplasm for an array of root phenotypes that improve nitrogen capture. Although this topic merits greater research attention than it currently receives, we have adequate understanding and tools to develop crops with improved nitrogen capture. Root phenotypes are underutilized yet attractive breeding targets for the development of the nitrogen efficient crops urgently needed in global agriculture.

Metabolomic Responses of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) to Allelopathic Benzoquinones from Iris sanguinea Seeds

Weed management is important in modern crop protection. Chemical weed control using synthetic herbicides, however, suffers from resistance and ecotoxicity. Metabolomic investigation of allelopathy (or allelochemicals) may provide novel alternatives to synthetic herbicides. This study aimed to investigate the detailed metabolomic responses of plants to allelochemicals in Iris seed extracts. The seed extracts of Iris sanguinea showed the strongest growth inhibitory activity against alfalfa, barnyard grass, lettuce, and mustard. 3-Hydroxyirisquinone (3-[10(Z)-heptadecenyl]-2-hydroxy-5-methoxy-1,4-benzoquinone) was isolated as a major allelochemical from I. sanguinea seeds through bioassay-guided fractionation. The compound inhibited the growth of shoots and roots by browning root tips. Discriminant analysis identified 33 differentially regulated lettuce metabolites after treatment with 3-hydroxyirisquinone (3HIQ). Metabolic pathway analysis revealed that several metabolic pathways, including aromatic amino acid biosynthesis and respiratory pathways, were affected by the compounds. Differential responses of membrane lipids (accumulation of unsaturated fatty acids) and extensive formation of reactive oxygen species were observed in root tissues following treatment with 3HIQ. Overall, alkylbenzoquinone from I. sanguinea induced extensive metabolic modulation, oxidative stress, and growth inhibition. The metabolomic responses to allelochemicals may provide fundamental information for the development of allelochemical-based herbicides.

Allelopathy: an alternative tool for sustainable agriculture

Population increase, poverty, environmental degradation, and the use of synthetic herbicides are interdependent and closely linked and hence influence global food safety and stability of world agriculture. On the one hand, varied weeds, insects, and other pests have caused a tremendous loss in agricultural crop productivity annually. On the other hand, the use of synthetic insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other pesticides significantly disturbed the ecology of biotic communities in agricultural and natural ecosystems. Eventually, it destroyed the ecological balance in food chains. Interestingly, natural products released by the plants (allelochemicals) are secondary metabolites involved in ecological interactions and could be an important source of alternative agrochemicals. Mainly released by the plants as an outcome of acquaintances with other plants in their vicinity, these allelochemicals can also be used as eco-friendly substitutes for synthetic herbicides and other pesticides. Despite these facts, agrochemicals are either preferred over allelochemicals or the latter are not known in the direction of their use in achieving sustainability in agriculture. Given this, considering recent reports, this paper aims to: (1) emphasize allelochemicals; (2) overview the major biochemistry of allelochemicals; (3) critically discuss the role of allelopathy (and underlying major mechanisms) in the management of noxious weeds, insect pests, and major plant pathogens; and (4) enlighten the significant aspects so far not or least explored in the current context.

Biochemical analysis, photosynthetic gene (psbA) down–regulation, and in silico receptor prediction in weeds in response to exogenous application of phenolic acids and their analogs

Chemical herbicides are the primary weed management tool, although several incidences of herbicide resistance have emerged, causing serious threat to agricultural sustainability. Plant derived phenolic acids with herbicidal potential provide organic and eco-friendly substitute to such harmful chemicals. In present study, phytotoxicity of two phenolic compounds, ferulic acid (FA) and gallic acid (GA), was evaluated in vitro and in vivo against three prevalent herbicide-resistant weed species (Sinapis arvensis, Lolium multiflorum and Parthenium hysterophorus). FA and GA not only suppressed the weed germination (80 to 60% respectively), but also negatively affected biochemical and photosynthetic pathway of weeds. In addition to significantly lowering the total protein and chlorophyll contents of the targeted weed species, the application of FA and GA treatments increased levels of antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation. Photosynthetic gene (psbA) expression was downregulated (10 to 30 folds) post 48 h of phenolic application. In silico analysis for receptor identification of FA and GA in psbA protein (D1) showed histidine (his-198) and threonine (thr-286) as novel receptors of FA and GA. These two receptors differ from the D1 amino acid receptors which have previously been identified (serine-264 and histidine-215) in response to PSII inhibitor herbicides. Based on its toxicity responses, structural analogs of FA were also designed. Four out of twelve analogs (0.25 mM) significantly inhibited weed germination (30 to 40%) while enhancing their oxidative stress. These results are unique which provide fundamental evidence of phytotoxicity of FA and GA and their analogs to develop cutting-edge plant based bio-herbicides formulation in future.

Abutilon theophrasti's Resilience against Allelochemical-Based Weed Management in Sustainable Agriculture - Due to Collection of Highly Advantageous Microorganisms?

Abutilon theophrasti Medik. (velvetleaf) is a problematic annual weed in field crops which has invaded many temperate parts of the world. Since the loss of crop yields can be extensive, approaches to manage the weed include not only conventional methods, but also biological methods, for instance by microorganisms releasing phytotoxins and plant-derived allelochemicals. Additionally, benzoxazinoid-rich rye mulches effective in managing common weeds like Amaranthus retroflexus L. have been tested for this purpose. However, recent methods for biological control are still unreliable in terms of intensity and duration. Rye mulches were also ineffective in managing velvetleaf. In this review, we present the attempts to reduce velvetleaf infestation by biological methods and discuss possible reasons for the failure. The resilience of velvetleaf may be due to the extraordinary capacity of the plant to collect, for its own survival, the most suitable microorganisms from a given farming site, genetic and epigenetic adaptations, and a high stress memory. Such properties may have developed together with other advantageous abilities during selection by humans when the plant was used as a crop. Rewilding could be responsible for improving the microbiomes of A. theophrasti.

Can allelopathy of Phragmites australis extracts aggravate the effects of salt stress on the seed germination of Suaeda salsa?

Phragmites australis is highly adaptable with high competitive ability and is widely distributed in the coastal wetland of the Yellow River Delta. However, allelopathic effects of P. australis on the growth of neighboring plants, such as Suaeda salsa, are poorly understood. In this study, germination responses of S. salsa seeds collected from two different habitats (intertidal zone and inland brackish wetland) to the extracts from different part of P. australis were compared. Potential allelopathic effects on germination percentage, germination rate, radicle length, and seedling biomass were analyzed. The germination of S. salsa was effectively inhibited by P. australis extract. Extract organ, extract concentration, and salt concentration showed different effects, the inhibitory rates were highest with belowground extract of P. australis between the four different parts. Germination percentage and germination rate were significantly decreased by the interactive effect of salt stress and extract concentration in S. salsa from a brackish wetland but not in S. salsa from the intertidal zone. The impact of different extracts of P. australis on radicle length and seedling biomass of S. salsa showed significant but inconsistent variation. The response index results showed that the higher concentration of extract solution (50 g·L^-1) of P. australis had stronger inhibitory effect on the seed germination and seedling growth of S. salsa while the belowground extract had the strongest negative effect. Our results indicated that allelopathy is an important ecological adaptation mechanism for P. australis to maintain a high interspecific competitive advantage in the species' natural habitat.

A glass bead semi-hydroponic system for intact maize root exudate analysis and phenotyping

BACKGROUND

Although there have been numerous studies describing plant growth systems for root exudate collection, a common limitation is that these systems require disruption of the plant root system to facilitate exudate collection. Here, we present a newly designed semi-hydroponic system that uses glass beads as solid support to simulate soil impedance, which combined with drip irrigation, facilitates growth of healthy maize plants, collection and analysis of root exudates, and phenotyping of the roots with minimal growth disturbance or root damage.

RESULTS

This system was used to collect root exudates from seven maize genotypes using water or 1 mM CaCl₂, and to measure root phenotype data using standard methods and the Digital imaging of root traits (DIRT) software. LC-MS/MS (Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry) and GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) targeted metabolomics platforms were used to detect and quantify metabolites in the root exudates. Phytohormones, some of which are reported in maize root exudates for the first time, the benzoxazinoid DIMBOA (2,4-Dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one), amino acids, and sugars were detected and quantified. After validating the methodology using known concentrations of standards for the targeted compounds, we found that the choice of the exudate collection solution affected the exudation and analysis of a subset of analyzed metabolites. No differences between collection in water or CaCl₂ were found for phytohormones and sugars. In contrast, the amino acids were more concentrated when water was used as the exudate collection solution. The collection in CaCl₂ required a clean-up step before MS analysis which was found to interfere with the detection of a subset of the amino acids. Finally, using the phenotypic measurements and the metabolite data, significant differences between genotypes were found and correlations between metabolites and phenotypic traits were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

A new plant growth system combining glass beads supported hydroponics with semi-automated drip irrigation of sterile solutions was implemented to grow maize plants and collect root exudates without disturbing or damaging the roots. The validated targeted exudate metabolomics platform combined with root phenotyping provides a powerful tool to link plant root and exudate phenotypes to genotype and study the natural variation of plant populations.

ROS Metabolism Perturbation as an Element of Mode of Action of Allelochemicals

The allelopathic interaction between plants is one of the elements that influences plant communities. It has been commonly studied by applying tissue extracts onto the acceptors or by treating them with isolated allelotoxins. Despite descriptive observations useful for agricultural practice, data describing the molecular mode of action of allelotoxins cannot be found. Due to the development of -omic techniques, we have an opportunity to investigate specific reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent changes in proteome or transcriptome that are induced by allelochemicals. The aim of our review is to summarize data on the ROS-induced modification in acceptor plants in response to allelopathic plants or isolated allelochemicals. We present the idea of how ROS are involved in the hormesis and plant autotoxicity phenomena. As an example of an -omic approach in studies of the mode of action of allelopatic compounds, we describe the influence of meta-tyrosine, an allelochemical exudated from roots of fescues, on nitration-one of nitro-oxidative posttranslational protein modification in the roots of tomato plants. We conclude that ROS overproduction and an induction of oxidative stress are general plants' responses to various allelochemicals, thus modification in ROS metabolisms is regarded as an indirect mode of action of allelochemicals.

Bioherbicidal Activity and Metabolic Profiling of Potent Allelopathic Plant Fractions Against Major Weeds of Wheat-Way Forward to Lower the Risk of Synthetic Herbicides

The productivity of major field crops is highly compromised due to weed infestation. Inefficient weed management practices and undue and excessive use of chemical herbicides have drastically contaminated the environment and human health, in addition to resistance development in weed species. Therefore, utilization of allelopathic plants to explore phytochemicals as potent organic alternatives to such chemical herbicides has become indispensable. The current study evaluates the comparative bio-herbicidal potential of methanolic extracts of castor (Ricinus communis), artemisia (Artemisia santolinifolia), wheat (Triticum aestivum), and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) to suppress growth of major weeds, i.e., wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis), Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), and carrot grass (Parthenium hysterophorus). The results demonstrated a concentration-dependent effect on weeds' growth. Overall, in vitro seed germination was reduced from 60 to 100% in response to 5% (w/v) extract concentration. Significant reduction in radicle length, hypocotyl length, and fresh biomass of the weeds was also observed. A strong inhibitory effect was seen in in vivo pot experiments, revealing that application of 10-20% methanolic extracts induced permanent wilting and substantial reduction in the chlorophyll content of weeds along with 20-80% increase in oxidative stress. Artemisia showed the most significant allelopathic effect, on account of highest phenolic and flavonoid contents, followed by castor, wheat, and sorghum, against S. arvensis, L. multiflorum, and P. hysterophorus, respectively. Phytochemical analysis, through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), also exhibited a correlation between extract's phytotoxicity and their antioxidant potential due to their major constituents (rutin, quercetin, catechin, gallic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, ferulic acid, p-hydroxy benzoic acid, p-coumaric acid, and sinapic acid), among the total of 13 identified in methanolic fractions. Comprehensive profiling of allelochemicals with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) determined 120, 113, 90, and 50 derivates of phenolic acids, flavonoids, and alkaloids, reported for the first time through this study, demonstrating significant allelopathic potential of the targeted plant fractions, which can be explored further to develop a sustainable bio-herbicidal formulation.

Unraveling Sorghum Allelopathy in Agriculture: Concepts and Implications

Allelopathy is an ecological phenomenon that involves the production and release of biomolecules from different crops, cultivated plants, and bacteria or fungi into the soil rhizosphere and impacts other organisms in the vicinity. Sorghum possesses vital allelopathic characteristics due to which it produces and releases different biomolecules from its root hairs, stems, and grains. Several studies have reported that sorghum acts as an allelopathic crop, decreasing the growth and eco-physiological attributes of surrounding plants and weeds growing simultaneously or subsequently in the field. Sorghum allelopathy has been exploited in the context of green manure, crop rotations, cover crops, and intercropping or mulching, whereas plant aqueous extracts or powder might be an alternate method of weed control. A diverse group of allelochemicals, including benzoic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid, m-coumaric acid, p-coumaric acid, gallic acid, caffeic acid, p-hydroxibenzaldehyde, dhurrin, sorgoleone, m-hydroxybenzoic acid and protocatechuic acid, have been isolated and identified from different plant tissues of sorghum and root exudates. These allelochemicals, especially sorgoleone, have been investigated in terms of their mode(s) of action, specific activity and selectivity, release in the rhizosphere and uptake and translocation in sensitive species. The present review describes the importance of sorghum allelopathy as an ecological tool in managing weeds, highlighting the most recent advances in the allelochemicals present in sorghum, their modes of action, and their fate in the ecosystem. Further research should focus on the evaluation and selection of sorghum cultivars with high allelopathic potential, so that sorghum allelopathy can be better utilized for weed control and yield enhancement.

Structure Simplification of Natural Products as a Lead Generation Approach in Agrochemical Discovery

Natural products (NPs) have a long history as sources of compounds for crop protection. Perhaps a more important role for NPs has been as models and inspiration for the discovery and development of synthetic crop protection compounds. NPs and their synthetic mimics account for 18% of all crop protection compounds, whereas another 38% of all crop protection compounds have a NP that could have served as a model. Because NPs are often complex molecules, have limited availability, or possess structural features that constrain their suitability for use in agricultural settings, a key element in NP-inspired compounds is the simplification of the NP structure to provide a synthetically accessible molecule that possesses the physicochemical properties needed for use in crop protection. Herein we review a series of examples of NP mimics that demonstrate the structural or synthetic simplification of NPs as a guide for the discovery of future NP-inspired agrochemicals focused on fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides.

In vivo assembly of the sorgoleone biosynthetic pathway and its impact on agroinfiltrated leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana

Sorgoleone, a hydrophobic compound exuded from root hair cells of Sorghum spp., accounts for much of the allelopathic activity of the genus. The enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of this compound have been identified and functionally characterized. Here, we report the successful assembly of the biosynthetic pathway and the significant impact of in vivo synthesized sorgoleone on the heterologous host Nicotiana benthamiana. A multigene DNA construct was prepared for the expression of genes required for sorgoleone biosynthesis in planta and deployed in N. benthamiana leaf tissues via Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression. RNA-sequencing was conducted to investigate the effects of sorgoleone, via expression of its biosynthesis pathway, on host gene expression. The production of sorgoleone in agroinfiltrated leaves as detected by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) resulted in the formation of necrotic lesions, indicating that the compound caused severe phytotoxicity to these tissues. RNA-sequencing profiling revealed significant changes in gene expression in the leaf tissues expressing the pathway during the formation of sorgoleone-induced necrotic lesions. Transcriptome analysis suggested that the compound produced in vivo impaired the photosynthetic system as a result of downregulated gene expression for the photosynthesis apparatus and elevated expression of proteasomal genes which may play a major role in the phytotoxicity of sorgoleone.

Sorgoleone concentration influences mycorrhizal colonization in sorghum

The association between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and sorghum, the fifth most cultivated cereal in the world and a staple food for many countries, is relevant to improving phosphorus (P) absorption. The importance of root exudation as a signal for the symbiosis has been shown for several species, but a complete understanding of the signaling molecules involved in the mycorrhizal symbiosis signaling pathway has not yet been elucidated. In this context, we investigated the effect of sorgoleone, one of the most studied allelochemicals and a predominant compound of root exudates in sorghum, on AMF colonization and consequently P uptake and plant growth on a sorghum genotype. The sorghum genotype P9401 presents low endogenous sorgoleone content, and when it was inoculated with Rhizophagus clarus together with 5 and 10 µM sorgoleone, mycorrhizal colonization was enhanced. A significant enhancement of mycorrhizal colonization and an increase of P content and biomass were observed when R. clarus was inoculated together with 20 µM sorgoleone. Thus, our results indicate that sorgoleone influences mycorrhizal colonization, but the mechanisms by which it does so still need to be revealed.

Allelopathy: The Chemical Language of Plants

In Nature, the oldest method of communication between living systems is the chemical language. Plants, due to their lack of mobility, have developed the most sophisticated way of chemical communication. Despite that many examples involve this chemical communication process-allelopathy, there is still a lack of information about specific allelochemicals released into the environment, their purpose, as well as in-depth studies on the chemistry underground. These findings are critical to gain a better understanding of the role of these compounds and open up a wide range of possibilities and applications, especially in agriculture and phytomedicine. The most relevant aspects regarding the chemical language of plants, namely kind of allelochemicals, have been investigated, as well as their releasing mechanisms and their purpose will be described in this chapter.

Proving the Mode of Action of Phytotoxic Phytochemicals

Knowledge of the mode of action of an allelochemical can be valuable for several reasons, such as proving and elucidating the role of the compound in nature and evaluating its potential utility as a pesticide. However, discovery of the molecular target site of a natural phytotoxin can be challenging. Because of this, we know little about the molecular targets of relatively few allelochemicals. It is much simpler to describe the secondary effects of these compounds, and, as a result, there is much information about these effects, which usually tell us little about the mode of action. This review describes the many approaches to molecular target site discovery, with an attempt to point out the pitfalls of each approach. Clues from molecular structure, phenotypic effects, physiological effects, omics studies, genetic approaches, and use of artificial intelligence are discussed. All these approaches can be confounded if the phytotoxin has more than one molecular target at similar concentrations or is a prophytotoxin, requiring structural alteration to create an active compound. Unequivocal determination of the molecular target site requires proof of activity on the function of the target protein and proof that a resistant form of the target protein confers resistance to the target organism.

Lipopolysaccharides trigger synthesis of the allelochemical sorgoleone in cell cultures of Sorghum bicolor

The use of plant cell suspension culture systems has demonstrated to be highly suitable for metabolomics investigations of inducible defense responses. Here we report on sorghum cell suspension cultures that were elicited with purified lipopolysaccharides from the sorghum pathogen Burkholderia andropogonis, to activate metabolic pathways involved in the chemical defenses of the plant. Metabolomic analysis using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry identified a resorcinol phenolic lipid, annotated as sorgoleone, as one of the biomarkers associated with the LPS-induced response. Sorgoleone is a semiochemical and an allelochemical, synthesized by specialized root hair cells and the major component of the hydrophobic root exudate of sorghum. Its detection in undifferentiated cells might indicate a previously undescribed role for this phytochemical in plant defense responses.

Genetic analysis of QTLs controlling allelopathic characteristics in sorghum

Mature sorghum herbage is known to contain several water-soluble secondary metabolites (allelochemicals). In this study, we investigated quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with allelochemical characteristics in sorghum using linkage mapping and linkage disequilibrium (LD)-based association mapping. A sorghum diversity research set (SDRS) of 107 accessions was used in LD mapping whereas, F_2:3 lines derived from a cross between Japanese and African landraces were used in linkage mapping. The QTLs were further confirmed by positional (targeted) association mapping with Q+K model. The inhibitory effect of water-soluble extracts (WSE) was tested on germination and root length of lettuce seedlings in four concentrations (25%, 50%, 75% and 100%). A Significant range of variations was observed among genotypes in both types of mapping populations (P < 0.05). A total of 181 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) derived from antecedently reported map have been used for genotyping of SDRS. A genetic linkage map of 151 sorghum SSR markers was also developed on 134 F₂ individuals. The total map length was 1359.3 cM, with an average distance of 8.2 cM between adjacent markers. LD mapping identified three QTLs for inhibition effect on germination and seven QTLs for root length of lettuce seedlings. Whereas, a total of six QTLs for inhibition of germination and ten QTLs for root length were detected in linkage mapping approach. The percent phenotypic variation explained by individual QTL ranged from 6.9% to 27.3% in SDRS and 9.9% to 35.6% in F_2:3 lines. Regional association analysis identified four QTLs, three of them are common in other methods too. No QTL was identified in the region where major gene for sorgoleone (SOR1) has been cloned previously on chromosome 5.

Conservation and divergence in sorgoleone production of sorghum species

Sorgoleone-358 is an important allelochemical of the oily droplets exuded from root hairs of various species in the Sorghum genus. Due to its hydrophobic nature, sorgoleone-358 can be strongly adsorbed onto soil organic matter, resulting in increased sorgoleone soil persistence. Because of the herbicidal activity of sorgoleone on many small-seeded weeds, concerns have been raised that sorghum residues may have a detrimental effect on emergence of wheat used as a double crop in the southeastern United States. Laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate root exudate production and its sorgoleone-358 content for 36 cultivated sorghum cultivars as well as eight shattercane [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench ssp. arundinaceum (Desv.) de Wet & Harlan] accessions and one johnsongrass [S. halepense (L.) Pers.] accession. Using a capillary growing mat system, root exudate was extracted with dichloromethane and subjected to chromatography analysis to determine sorgoleone-358 content. Root biomass of 7- to 12-d-old seedlings averaged 18.8 mg g^-1 seed, and root exudate production ranged from 0.2 and 4.8 mg g^-1 root fresh weight (RFW). The amount of sorgoleone produced varied greatly among sorghum accessions. Sorgoleone-358 amount in the root exudate averaged 0.5 mg g^-1 RFW and varied from 0.13 to 1.05 mg g^-1 for shattercane cultivar S7 and cultivated sorghum cultivar 992123, respectively. Regarding volume of root biomass, sorgoleone-358 levels averaged 0.49 mg g^-1 (range, 0.06-1.46 mg g^-1 ) for sorghum cultivar AAS3479 and shattercane cultivar S2, respectively. Segregation of commercial sorghum cultivars according to their maturity group did not show any difference in root biomass and dry extract production, but early-maturing cultivars produced on average 18% less sorgoleone-358 compared with medium- and late-maturing cultivars. These results suggest that sorgoleone production may be genetically constitutive because sorghum growing conditions were identical across cultivars.

An Allelopathic Role for Garlic Root Exudates in the Regulation of Carbohydrate Metabolism in Cucumber in a Hydroponic Co-Culture System

Garlic is considered to have a strong positive effect on the growth and yield of receptors under soil cultivation conditions. However, how this positive promotion is produced by changing the growth environment of the receptors or directly acting on the receptors is still not very clear. The direct influence of co-culturing with different quantities of garlic plants (the control 5, 10, 15, 20) on the growth and biochemical processes of cucumber plants was studied using a hydroponic co-culture system. Different numbers of garlic bulbs inhibited the growth of cucumber plants and increased the production and induction of reactive oxygen species, which accompanied the enhancement of lipid peroxidation and oxidative damage to cucumber. This allelopathic exposure further reduced the chlorophyll contents and photosynthesis rate, and consequently impaired the photosynthetic performance of photosystem II (PSII). Garlic root exudates increased the leaves' carbohydrates accumulation, such as soluble sugar contents and sucrose levels by regulating the activities of metabolismic enzymes; however, no such accumulation was observed in the roots. Our results suggested that garlic root exudates can mediate negative plant-plant interactions and its phytotoxic influence on cucumber plants may have occurred through the application of oxidative stress, which consequently imbalanced the source-to-sink photo-assimilate flow.

Recent advances in allelopathy for weed control: from knowledge to applications

Allelopathy is the biological phenomenon of chemical interactions between living organisms in the ecosystem, and must be taken into account in addressing pest and weed problems in future sustainable agriculture. Allelopathy is a multidisciplinary science, but in some cases, aspects of its chemistry are overlooked, despite the need for a deep knowledge of the chemical structural characteristics of allelochemicals to facilitate the design of new herbicides. This review is focused on the most important advances in allelopathy, paying particular attention to the design and development of phenolic compounds, terpenoids and alkaloids as herbicides. The isolation of allelochemicals is mainly addressed, but other aspects such as the analysis and activities of derivatives or analogs are also covered. Furthermore, the use of allelopathy in the fight against parasitic plants is included. The past 12 years have been a prolific period for publications on allelopathy. This critical review discusses future research areas in this field and the state of the art is analyzed from the chemist's perspective. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Interactions Between Natural Herbicides and Lipid Bilayers Mimicking the Plant Plasma Membrane

Natural phytotoxic compounds could become an alternative to traditional herbicides in the framework of sustainable agriculture. Nonanoic acid, sarmentine and sorgoleone are such molecules extracted from plants and able to inhibit the growth of various plant species. However, their mode of action is not fully understood and despite clues indicating that they could affect the plant plasma membrane, molecular details of such phenomenon are lacking. In this paper, we investigate the interactions between those natural herbicides and artificial bilayers mimicking the plant plasma membrane. First, their ability to affect lipid order and fluidity is evaluated by means of fluorescence measurements. It appears that sorgoleone has a clear ordering effect on lipid bilayers, while nonanoic acid and sarmentine induce no or little change to these parameters. Then, a thermodynamic characterization of interactions of each compound with lipid vesicles is obtained with isothermal titration calorimetry, and their respective affinity for bilayers is found to be ranked as follows: sorgoleone > sarmentine > nonanoic acid. Finally, molecular dynamics simulations give molecular details about the location of each compound within a lipid bilayer and confirm the rigidifying effect of sorgoleone. Data also suggest that mismatch in alkyl chain length between nonanoic acid or sarmentine and lipid hydrophobic tails could be responsible for bilayer destabilization. Results are discussed regarding their implications for the phytotoxicity of these compounds.

Isolation and identification of a growth inhibitory substance from Heliotropium indicum L

Heliotropium indicum L. belongs to the family Boraginaceae. The plant has been used as a folk medicine because it contains substances of various biological activities. It is also identified as a common weed which grows wildly in crop fields in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. However, there is little information on the allelopathic effect in this plant. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate the growth inhibitory effect and to identify the growth inhibitory substances in H. indicum. An aqueous methanol extract of H. indicum inhibited shoot and root growth of barnyard grass, foxtail fescue, timothy, cress, lettuce and rapeseed at concentrations higher than 10 mg dry weight equivalent extract/mL. The concentrations required for 50% growth inhibition (I50) of those test plants ranged from 3-282 mg dry weight equivalent extract/mL. The extract was then separated using a sequence of chromatographic fractionations and a growth inhibitory substance was isolated and identified by spectral analysis as methyl caffeate. Methyl caffeate inhibited the growth of lettuce and foxtail fescue at concentrations higher than 1.0 mM. The results suggest that methyl caffeate may contribute to the growth inhibitory effect of H. indicum and may play an important role in the allelopathic effect of H. indicum.

A cytochrome P450 CYP71 enzyme expressed in Sorghum bicolor root hair cells participates in the biosynthesis of the benzoquinone allelochemical sorgoleone

Sorgoleone, a major component of the hydrophobic root exudates of Sorghum spp., is probably responsible for many of the allelopathic properties attributed to members of this genus. Much of the biosynthetic pathway for this compound has been elucidated, with the exception of the enzyme responsible for the catalysis of the addition of two hydroxyl groups to the resorcinol ring. A library prepared from isolated Sorghum bicolor root hair cells was first mined for P450-like sequences, which were then analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to identify those preferentially expressed in root hairs. Full-length open reading frames for each candidate were generated, and then analyzed biochemically using both a yeast expression system and transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated repression in transgenic S. bicolor was used to confirm the roles of these candidates in the biosynthesis of sorgoleone in planta. A P450 enzyme, designated CYP71AM1, was found to be capable of catalyzing the formation of dihydrosorgoleone using 5-pentadecatrienyl resorcinol-3-methyl ether as substrate, as determined by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). RNAi-mediated repression of CYP71AM1 in S. bicolor resulted in decreased sorgoleone contents in multiple independent transformant events. Our results strongly suggest that CYP71AM1 participates in the biosynthetic pathway of the allelochemical sorgoleone.

Root hairs increase rhizosphere extension and carbon input to soil

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Although it is commonly accepted that root exudation enhances plant-microbial interactions in the rhizosphere, experimental data on the spatial distribution of exudates are scarce. Our hypothesis was that root hairs exude organic substances to enlarge the rhizosphere farther from the root surface.

METHODS

Barley (Hordeum vulgare 'Pallas' - wild type) and its root-hairless mutant (brb) were grown in rhizoboxes and labelled with 14CO2. A filter paper was placed on the soil surface to capture, image and quantify root exudates.

KEY RESULTS

Plants with root hairs allocated more carbon (C) to roots (wild type: 13 %; brb: 8 % of assimilated 14C) and to rhizosheaths (wild type: 1.2 %; brb: 0.2 %), while hairless plants allocated more C to shoots (wild type: 65 %; brb: 75 %). Root hairs increased the radial rhizosphere extension three-fold, from 0.5 to 1.5 mm. Total exudation on filter paper was three times greater for wild type plants compared to the hairless mutant.

CONCLUSION

Root hairs increase exudation and spatial rhizosphere extension, which probably enhance rhizosphere interactions and nutrient cycling in larger soil volumes. Root hairs may therefore be beneficial to plants under nutrient-limiting conditions. The greater C allocation below ground in the presence of root hairs may additionally foster C sequestration.

Small molecules below-ground: the role of specialized metabolites in the rhizosphere

Soil communities are diverse taxonomically and functionally. This ecosystem experiences highly complex networks of interactions, but may also present functionally independent entities. Plant roots, a metabolically active hotspot in the soil, take an essential part in below-ground interactions. While plants are known to release an extremely high portion of the fixated carbon to the soil, less information is known about the composition and role of C-containing compounds in the rhizosphere, in particular those involved in chemical communication. Specialized metabolites (or secondary metabolites) produced by plants and their associated microbes have a critical role in various biological activities that modulate the behavior of neighboring organisms. Thus, elucidating the chemical composition and function of specialized metabolites in the rhizosphere is a key element in understanding interactions in this below-ground environment. Here, we review key classes of specialized metabolites that occur as mostly non-volatile compounds in root exudates or are emitted as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The role of these metabolites in below-ground interactions and response to nutrient deficiency, as well as their tissue and cell type-specific biosynthesis and release are discussed in detail.

The Mechanisms and Consequences of Interspecific Competition Among Plants

During the past 100 years, studies spanning thousands of taxa across almost all biomes have demonstrated that competition has powerful negative effects on the performance of individuals and can affect the composition of plant communities, the evolution of traits, and the functioning of whole ecosystems. In this review, we highlight new and important developments that have the potential to greatly improve our understanding of how plants compete and the consequences of competition from individuals to communities in the following major areas of research: (a) mechanisms of competition, (b) competitive effect and response, (c) direct and indirect effects of competition, (d) population-level effects of competition, (e) biogeographical differences in competition, and (f) conditionality of competition. Ecologists have discovered much about competition, but the mechanisms of competition and how competition affects the organization of communities in nature still require both theoretical and empirical exploration.

Research Progress on the use of Plant Allelopathy in Agriculture and the Physiological and Ecological Mechanisms of Allelopathy

Allelopathy is a common biological phenomenon by which one organism produces biochemicals that influence the growth, survival, development, and reproduction of other organisms. These biochemicals are known as allelochemicals and have beneficial or detrimental effects on target organisms. Plant allelopathy is one of the modes of interaction between receptor and donor plants and may exert either positive effects (e.g., for agricultural management, such as weed control, crop protection, or crop re-establishment) or negative effects (e.g., autotoxicity, soil sickness, or biological invasion). To ensure sustainable agricultural development, it is important to exploit cultivation systems that take advantage of the stimulatory/inhibitory influence of allelopathic plants to regulate plant growth and development and to avoid allelopathic autotoxicity. Allelochemicals can potentially be used as growth regulators, herbicides, insecticides, and antimicrobial crop protection products. Here, we reviewed the plant allelopathy management practices applied in agriculture and the underlying allelopathic mechanisms described in the literature. The major points addressed are as follows: (1) Description of management practices related to allelopathy and allelochemicals in agriculture. (2) Discussion of the progress regarding the mode of action of allelochemicals and the physiological mechanisms of allelopathy, consisting of the influence on cell micro- and ultra-structure, cell division and elongation, membrane permeability, oxidative and antioxidant systems, growth regulation systems, respiration, enzyme synthesis and metabolism, photosynthesis, mineral ion uptake, protein and nucleic acid synthesis. (3) Evaluation of the effect of ecological mechanisms exerted by allelopathy on microorganisms and the ecological environment. (4) Discussion of existing problems and proposal for future research directions in this field to provide a useful reference for future studies on plant allelopathy.

Sarmentine, a natural herbicide from Piper species with multiple herbicide mechanisms of action

Sarmentine, 1-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-(2E,4E)-2,4-decadien-1-one, is a natural amide isolated from the fruits of Piper species. The compound has a number of interesting biological properties, including its broad-spectrum activity on weeds as a contact herbicide. Initial studies highlighted a similarity in response between plants treated with sarmentine and herbicidal soaps such as pelargonic acid (nonanoic acid). However, little was known about the mechanism of action leading to the rapid desiccation of foliage treated by sarmentine. In cucumber cotyledon disc-assays, sarmentine induced rapid light-independent loss of membrane integrity at 100 μM or higher concentration, whereas 3 mM pelargonic acid was required for a similar effect. Sarmentine was between 10 and 30 times more active than pelargonic acid on wild mustard, velvetleaf, redroot pigweed and crabgrass. Additionally, the potency of 30 μM sarmentine was greatly stimulated by light, suggesting that this natural product may also interfere with photosynthetic processes. This was confirmed by observing a complete inhibition of photosynthetic electron transport at that concentration. Sarmentine also acted as an inhibitor of photosystem II (PSII) on isolated thylakoid membranes by competing for the binding site of plastoquinone. This can be attributed in part to structural similarities between herbicides like sarmentine and diuron. While this mechanism of action accounts for the light stimulation of the activity of sarmentine, it does not account for its ability to destabilize membranes in darkness. In this respect, sarmentine has some structural similarity to crotonoyl-CoA, the substrate of enoyl-ACP reductase, a key enzyme in the early steps of fatty acid synthesis. Inhibitors of this enzyme, such as triclosan, cause rapid loss of membrane integrity in the dark. Sarmentine inhibited the activity of enoyl-ACP reductase, with an I 50app of 18.3 μM. Therefore, the herbicidal activity of sarmentine appears to be a complex process associated with multiple mechanisms of action.

Suppression of soil nitrification by plants

Nitrification, the biological oxidation of ammonium to nitrate, weakens the soil's ability to retain N and facilitates N-losses from production agriculture through nitrate-leaching and denitrification. This process has a profound influence on what form of mineral-N is absorbed, used by plants, and retained in the soil, or lost to the environment, which in turn affects N-cycling, N-use efficiency (NUE) and ecosystem health and services. As reactive-N is often the most limiting in natural ecosystems, plants have acquired a range of mechanisms that suppress soil-nitrifier activity to limit N-losses via N-leaching and denitrification. Plants' ability to produce and release nitrification inhibitors from roots and suppress soil-nitrifier activity is termed 'biological nitrification inhibition' (BNI). With recent developments in methodology for in-situ measurement of nitrification inhibition, it is now possible to characterize BNI function in plants. This review assesses the current status of our understanding of the production and release of biological nitrification inhibitors (BNIs) and their potential in improving NUE in agriculture. A suite of genetic, soil and environmental factors regulate BNI activity in plants. BNI-function can be genetically exploited to improve the BNI-capacity of major food- and feed-crops to develop next-generation production systems with reduced nitrification and N2O emission rates to benefit both agriculture and the environment. The feasibility of such an approach is discussed based on the progresses made.

Expression level of a flavonoid 3'-hydroxylase gene determines pathogen-induced color variation in sorghum

Background

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) accumulates 3-deoxyanthocyanidins and exhibits orange to purple coloration on parts of the leaf in response to infection with the fungus Bipolaris sorghicola. We aimed to identify the key genes determining this color variation.

Results

Sorghum populations derived from Nakei-MS3B and M36001 accumulated apigeninidin, or both apigeninidin and luteolinidin, in different proportions in lesions caused by B. sorghicola infection, suggesting that the relative proportions of the two 3-deoxyanthocyanidins determine color variation. QTL analysis and genomic sequencing indicated that two closely linked loci on chromosome 4, containing the flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase (F3′H) and Tannin1 (Tan1) genes, were responsible for the lesion color variation. The F3′H locus in Nakei-MS3B had a genomic deletion resulting in the fusion of two tandemly arrayed F3′H genes. The recessive allele at the Tan1 locus derived from M36001 had a genomic insertion and encoded a non-functional WD40 repeat transcription factor. Whole-mRNA sequencing revealed that expression of the fused F3′H gene was conspicuously induced in purple sorghum lines. The levels of expression of F3′H matched the relative proportions of apigeninidin and luteolinidin.

Conclusions

Expression of F3′H is responsible for the synthesis of luteolinidin; the expression level of this gene is therefore critical in determining color variation in sorghum leaves infected with B. sorghicola.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1756-0500-7-761) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Herbicidal activity of formulated sorgoleone, a natural product of sorghum root exudate

BACKGROUND

The allelochemical sorgoleone, a major component of the hydrophobic root exudates of Sorghum bicolor, was formulated as a wettable powder [4.6 WP] and evaluated as a natural herbicide on several weed and crop species under different growth conditions.

RESULTS

Formulated sorgoleone [4.6 WP] suppressed germination and shoot growth of weeds, with broadleaf species showing greater susceptibility than grass weed species. Germination and growth of broadleaf weed species were completely suppressed (100%) at 0.2 g a.i. L(-1) sorgoleone in a growth chamber study. Post-emergence applications of the wettable formulation of sorgoleone [4.6 WP] inhibited 20-25% higher growth of weeds than pre-emergence applications under greenhouse conditions. Broadleaf weeds were more susceptible than grass species to both methods of application. In all studies, growth was suppressed in more than 90% of the broadleaf weeds and two species, in particular, Rumex japonicus and Plantago asiatica, were completely suppressed at 0.4 kg a.i. ha(-1) sorgoleone. The crop species, on the other hand, were much more tolerant to sorgoleone, with 30% inhibition, at most, at the highest rate of 0.4 kg a.i. ha(-1) sorgoleone.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study reveal that sorgoleone, after formulation as a WP, is more effective in inhibiting weed growth, and crop species are tolerant to it. The strong weed suppressive ability of formulated sorgoleone therefore offers interesting possibilities as an effective natural environment-friendly approach for weed management.

Effects of jasmonates on sorgoleone accumulation and expression of genes for sorgoleone biosynthesis in sorghum roots

This study investigated the roles of jasmonates in the regulation of sorgoleone accumulation and the expression of genes involved in sorgoleone biosynthesis in sorghum roots. Both methyl jasmonate (MeJa) and jasmonic acid (JA) substantially promoted root hair formation, secondary root development, root weight, and sorgoleone accumulation in sorghum roots. Sorgoleone content varied widely depending on the concentration of JA or MeJa and the duration of their application. Root weight and sorgoleone accumulation were highest after the application of JA or MeJa at a concentration of 5.0 μM, and then declined with increasing concentrations of jasmonates. At 5.0 μM, JA and MeJa increased sorgoleone content by 4.1 and 3.4-fold, respectively. Transcript accumulation was apparent for all genes, particularly for the O-methyltransferase 3 gene, which increased in expression levels up to 8.1-fold after a 36-h exposure to MeJa and 3.5-fold after a 48-h exposure to JA. The results of this study pave the way for more effective biosynthesis of sorgoleone, an important and useful allelochemical obtained from a variety of plant species.

Sorghum allelopathy--from ecosystem to molecule

Sorghum allelopathy has been reported in a series of field experiments following sorghum establishment. In recent years, sorghum phytotoxicity and allelopathic interference also have been well-described in greenhouse and laboratory settings. Observations of allelopathy have occurred in diverse locations and with various sorghum plant parts. Phytotoxicity has been reported when sorghum was incorporated into the soil as a green manure, when residues remained on the soil surface in reduced tillage settings, or when sorghum was cultivated as a crop in managed fields. Allelochemicals present in sorghum tissues have varied with plant part, age, and cultivar evaluated. A diverse group of sorghum allelochemicals, including numerous phenolics, a cyanogenic glycoside (dhurrin), and a hydrophobic p-benzoquinone (sorgoleone) have been isolated and identified in recent years from sorghum shoots, roots, and root exudates, as our capacity to analyze and identify complex secondary products in trace quantities in the plant and in the soil rhizosphere has improved. These allelochemicals, particularly sorgoleone, have been widely investigated in terms of their mode(s) of action, specific activity and selectivity, release into the rhizosphere, and uptake and translocation into sensitive indicator species. Both genetics and environment have been shown to influence sorgoleone production and expression of genes involved in sorgoleone biosynthesis. In the soil rhizosphere, sorgoleone is released continuously by living root hairs where it accumulates in significant concentrations around its roots. Further experimentation designed to study the regulation of sorgoleone production by living sorghum root hairs may result in increased capacity to utilize sorghum cover crops more effectively for suppression of germinating weed seedlings, in a manner similar to that of soil-applied preemergent herbicides like trifluralin.

Global transcriptome analysis reveals distinct expression among duplicated genes during sorghum-interaction

BACKGROUND

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is a rich source of natural phytochemicals. We performed massive parallel sequencing of mRNA to identify differentially expressed genes after sorghum BTx623 had been infected with Bipolaris sorghicola, a necrotrophic fungus causing a sorghum disease called target leaf spot.

RESULT

Seventy-six-base-pair reads from mRNAs of mock- or pathogen-infected leaves were sequenced. Unannotated transcripts were predicted on the basis of the piling-up of mapped short reads. Differentially expressed genes were identified statistically; particular genes in tandemly duplicated putative paralogs were highly upregulated. Pathogen infection activated the glyoxylate shunt in the TCA cycle; this changes the role of the TCA cycle from energy production to synthesis of cell components. The secondary metabolic pathways of phytoalexin synthesis and of sulfur-dependent detoxification were activated by upregulation of the genes encoding amino acid metabolizing enzymes located at the branch point between primary and secondary metabolism. Coordinated gene expression could guide the metabolic pathway for accumulation of the sorghum-specific phytochemicals 3-deoxyanthocyanidin and dhurrin. Key enzymes for synthesizing these sorghum-specific phytochemicals were not found in the corresponding region of the rice genome.

CONCLUSION

Pathogen infection dramatically changed the expression of particular paralogs that putatively encode enzymes involved in the sorghum-specific metabolic network.

An analysis of Sorghum halepense's behavior in presence of tropane alkaloids from Datura stramonium extracts

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to quantify the allelopathic potential of Datura stramonium (Jimson weed). Sorghum halepense (Johnsongrass) tolerance was assessed by germinating, seed and growing seedlings, dosing of photo-synthesis pigments, followed by treatment with D. stramonium extract tropane alkaloids.

RESULTS

Preliminary chemical analysis of the extracts showed the presence of alkaloids.The presence of alkaloids was confirmed through HPLC-UV system analysis. Various concentrations of analytic purity alkaloids had similar effects on germination and development of S. halepense's root systems with those of extracts from of D. stramonium. Germination was not affected by any of the tested extracts, but growth was inhibited by the presence of tropane alkaloids. Extracts had effects at higher alkaloid concentrations. Seedlings of S. halepense developed toxicity symptoms in the presence of alkaloid extracts, but the occurrence of several chlorotic and necrotic areas was noticed in the flower extract biotest.

CONCLUSIONS

Results show that the tested species is sensitive to alkaloids in their growth environment. This research justifies the fact that aqueous extracts from D. stramonium are adequate to the situations in which S. halepense becomes damaging.

Mechanisms for cellular transport and release of allelochemicals from plant roots into the rhizosphere

Allelochemicals and other metabolites released by plant roots play important roles in rhizosphere signalling, plant defence and responses to abiotic stresses. Plants use a variety of sequestration and transport mechanisms to move and export bioactive products safely into the rhizosphere. The use of mutants and molecular tools to study gene expression has revealed new information regarding the diverse group of transport proteins and conjugation processes employed by higher plants. Transport systems used for moving secondary products into and out of root cells are similar to those used elsewhere in the plant but are closely linked to soil environmental conditions and local root health. Root cells can rapidly generate and release large quantities of allelochemicals in response to stress or local rhizosphere conditions, so the production and transport of these compounds in cells are often closely linked. Plants need to manage the potentially toxic allelochemicals and metabolites they produce by sequestering them to the vacuole or other membrane-bound vesicles. These compartments provide secure storage areas and systems for safely moving bioactive chemicals throughout the cytosol. Release into the apoplast occurs either by exocytosis or through membrane-bound transport proteins. This review discusses the possible transport mechanisms involved in releasing specific root-produced allelochemicals by combining microscopic observations of the specialized root cells with the physical and chemical properties of the exudates.

Sorgoleone: benzoquinona lipídica de sorgo com efeitos alelopáticos na agricultura como herbicida

A cultura do sorgo cresceu rapidamente nestes últimos anos, por ser uma planta com características xerófilas, apresentando um aumento de sua produção principalmente na região nordeste devido a sua capacidade de suportar ambientes de cultivo mais secos. As ervas daninhas são um grande problema para os cultivares, pois estas podem reduzir significativamente a produção de grãos, particularmente quando surgem nas fases iniciais das culturas. Visando a obtenção de culturas resistentes às ervas daninhas, estudos têm sido realizados demonstrando que algumas plantas possuem uma defesa natural que consiste na capacidade de um organismo produzir metabólitos que atuam inibindo ou o crescimento ou o desenvolvimento de outros organismos que estão próximos; a esta capacidade dá-se o nome de alelopatia. O sorgo é uma das plantas que possuem sua alelopatia comprovada, produzindo um complexo de substâncias lipídicas e proteínas denominados genericamente de sorgoleone, tendo como seu principal composto o 2-hidroxi-5-metoxi-3-[(Z,Z)-8',11',14'-pentadecatrieno]-p-benzoquinona, que é naturalmente liberado para o solo a partir dos tricomas das suas raízes e, no momento em que entram em contato com as ervas daninhas, inibem seu crescimento. Devido a tais características inerentes à cultura do sorgo, este trabalho tem como objetivo discorrer sobre os possíveis benefícios do uso desse cereal devido a sua comprovada alelopatia, bem como informar os conhecidos mecanismos de produção e atuação dos principais compostos constituintes do sorgoleone produzidos pelas suas raízes.