Terpenoid trans‐caryophyllene inhibits weed germination and induces plant water status alteration and oxidative damage in adult Arabidopsis

Abstract

trans-Caryophyllene (TC) is a sesquiterpene commonly found as volatile component in many different aromatic plants. Although the phytotoxic effects of trans-caryophyllene on seedling growth are relatively explored, not many information is available regarding the phytotoxicity of this sesquiterpenes on weed germination and on adult plants. The phytotoxic potential of TC was assayed in vitro on weed germination and seedling growth to validate its phytotoxic potential on weed species. Moreover, it was assayed on the metabolism of Arabidopsis thaliana adult plants, through two different application ways, spraying and watering, in order to establish the primary affected organ and to deal with the unknown mobility of the compound. The results clearly indicated that TC inhibited both seed germination and root growth, as demonstrated by comparison of the ED50 values. Moreover, although trans-caryophyllene-sprayed adult Arabidopsis plants did not show any effect, trans-caryophyllene-watered plants became strongly affected. The results suggested that root uptake was a key step for the effectiveness of this natural compound and its phytotoxicity on adult plants was mainly due to the alteration of plant water status accompanied by oxidative damage.

Allelopatic Potential of Dittrichia viscosa (L.) W. Greuter Mediated by VOCs: A Physiological and Metabolomic Approach

“…viscosa VOCs revealed a strong presence of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, well known as allelopathic compounds, able to affect plant growth generally causing oxidative stress followed by a cascade effect on many physiological processes of receptor plants [57]. Both of them affected mitochondrial respiration [58, 59] and microtubule distribution and organization [38, 60], destroyed cell membranes [61] and altered hormone balance and plant water status [36, 62]. The sesquiterpenes trans -caryophyllene was able to affect the germination and growth of several weeds as well as of Arabidopsis adult plants inducing the alteration of plant water status [36].…”

“…The VOCs bioassay on lettuce adult plants was carried out as previously described [36]. Lettuce plants (30 days old) were exposed to D .…”

“…The fluorescence of the chlorophyll a emitted by plants (three per treatment) exposed to VOCs was determined as described by Araniti et al [36] with some modifications. Chlorophyll fluorescence was monitored using the Maxi-Imaging-PAM Chlorophyll Fluorescence System fluorometer (Walz, Effeltrich, Germany), and monitored every three days for 12 days.…”

“…Lipid peroxidation was determined as described by Araniti et al [36], measuring the increase of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the sample. Liquid nitrogen powdered plant material (100 mg) was homogenized in 80% cold ethanol solution (1 ml) and centrifuged at 3000 g for 10 minutes at 4°C.…”

“…Leaf Ψπ was measured at the end of the experiment on four leaves per treatment (0 and 50 g cut plant material) as described by Araniti et al [36]. Lettuce leaves were collected and frozen at -20°C.…”