Influence of Genotype and Harvest Time on the Cynara cardunculus L. Sesquiterpene Lactone Profile

Abstract

The excessive and inappropriate application of herbicides has caused environmental pollution. The use of allelochemicals as bioherbicides could provide a solution to this problem. The allelopathic activity of Cynara cardunculus L. has been studied previously, and sesquiterpene lactones (STLs) were identified as the most relevant allelochemicals. The goal of the study reported here was to investigate the effect of six genotypes and three harvest times on the qualitative and quantitative composition of STLs in C. cardunculus leaves through a new ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography−tandem mass spectrometry analysis method and, thus, the effect on phytotoxicity. Overall, wild cardoon contained the highest levels of STLs of the three botanical varieties studied. Nevertheless, climatic conditions had a marked influence on the presence of STLs among the six genotypes, which was higher in the April harvest. Cynaropicrin was the most abundant STL detected. A close relationship was found between the STL profiles and the allelopathic activity, expressed as inhibition of wheat coleoptile elongation. The data provide a new and important contribution to our understanding of C. cardunculus allelopathy.

Physiological, Biochemical, and Metabolic Responses to Short and Prolonged Saline Stress in Two Cultivated Cardoon Genotypes

“…In "Spagnolo" prolonged salinity determined a slight increase in cynaropicrin (Figure S2). Several authors reported cynaropicrin accumulation in cardoon and artichoke as localized in specific tissues and mostly dependent on developmental stages, genotype, and harvesting time [26,51]. Moreover, in other Asteraceae high de novo production of STLs in leaves or their release from glandular trichomes is usually associated to a feeding attack from chewing insects or birds, indicating that a repelling flavor can be a protective mechanism [28].…”

Integrated Weed Management in Herbaceous Field Crops

“…Moreover, new C. cardunculus allelochemicals (cynaratriol, deacylcynaropicrin, 11,13-dihydro-deacylcynaropicrin and pinoresinol) were purified [141]. Then, after the development of a new ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis method, the influence of genotype and harvest time was studied on the phytotoxicity, amount and composition of its allelochemicals [142].…”

A New Insight on Cardoon: Exploring New Uses besides Cheese Making with a View to Zero Waste

“…Cardoon leaf extracts are also known for their allelopathic activities. Allelopathy is the direct or indirect effect of a plant over a target species (plants, algae, bacteria, or fungus) through the release of chemical compounds, allelochemicals, into the environment [61,67,68]. The allelochemicals can be integrated with weed management and can be introduced into the environment through volatilization from the aboveground parts of the plant, root exudation, foliar leaching, or plant residue decomposition [61,[67][68][69][70].…”

“…Allelopathy is the direct or indirect effect of a plant over a target species (plants, algae, bacteria, or fungus) through the release of chemical compounds, allelochemicals, into the environment [61,67,68]. The allelochemicals can be integrated with weed management and can be introduced into the environment through volatilization from the aboveground parts of the plant, root exudation, foliar leaching, or plant residue decomposition [61,[67][68][69][70]. Phenolic compounds and sesquiterpene lactones are the most common examples of allelochemicals and can be found in different parts of plants, such as leaves, roots, stems, rhizomes, seeds, flowers, and pollen [69,71].…”