Agricultural Uses of Juglone: Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

Application of conventional synthetic pesticides and agrochemicals has boosted the yield and productivity of crops by reducing pest infestation and promoting crop growth yet increasing reliance on many of these products poses serious environmental threats. This has led to growing interest in obtaining more environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional pesticides and agrochemicals. Allelochemicals produced by plants, fungi, and microbes offer options for developing novel natural product-based pesticides and agrochemicals that are effective but with lower environmental half-lives. Here, we review the current state of knowledge about the potential use of juglone (5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), the allelochemical produced by black walnut trees (Juglans nigra), which has been investigated for applications across a range of different agricultural purposes. We then offer our perspective on what opportunities and challenges exist for harnessing juglone as a component of sustainable agriculture.

Bioherbicidal Properties of Parthenium hysterophorus, Cleome rutidosperma and Borreria alata Extracts on Selected Crop and Weed Species

“…Allelopathic plants may exert either inhibitory or stimulatory effects on the germination and growth of other plants in their immediate vicinity. Recently, allelopathic plants or their allelochemicals are being utilized sporadically instead of synthetic herbicides to control weeds, and more attention has been paid by scientists to develop natural productbased herbicides from allelopathic plants [12][13][14][15][16]. Moreover, due to the presence of higher oxygen and nitrogen-rich molecules and having a relatively low halogen substitute, most of the allelochemicals are environment friendly [17].…”

Induction of Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Dysfunction by Juglone Affects the Development of Bovine Oocytes

“…The cytotoxic properties of juglone (1.0–100.0 µM) have been reported in vitro against different cancer cells such as cervical, gastric, pancreatic, breast, prostate, lung, and ovarian cancer cells [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. In addition, juglone exhibits antifungal (e.g., Aspergillus and Penicillium ), antibacterial (e.g., Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , Bacillus subtilis , and Helicobacter pylori ), antiviral, and antiparasitic activities [ 4 , 7 , 8 ]. However, juglone also suppressed lipopolysaccharides-induced inflammatory responses and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in tumor-derived J774.1 cells [ 9 ].…”

Lignocellulosic wastes of Carya illinoinensis (Juglandaceae) inhibit germination and seedling develop-ment of Lactuca sativa (Asteraceae)

“…Extracts of pecan nut have several substances, such as phenolic and flavonoids compounds, which may be of interest to the chemical industry due to their potential biotechnological applications (Prado et al 2014, Flores-Estrada et al 2020. In some situations, the substances of interest to the chemical industry are precisely molecules that have the toxic potential on the germination of seeds of other plant species, since they could be applied in the control of weeds, for example (Islam and Widhalm, 2020). Here, plant extracts from leaves (LR) and fruit epicarp residues (ER) of pecan tree drastically reduced the lettuce seed germination, with inhibition of germination greater than 80%.…”

“…However, fresh plant wastes (non-composted) may have allelochemical substances (e.g. bioactive compound such as quinoid, phenolic and flavonoids compounds) (Islam and Widhalm, 2020). These substances, produced by secondary metabolism, can cause deleterious effects on seeds germination or initial seedling development (Aslam et al, 2017;Feng et al, 2017;Rehman et al, 2019).…”