Toxicity Assessment of (4)-Lachnophyllum and (4,8)-Matricaria Lactones: Implications for Environmental Safety of Bioherbicides.

(4,8)-Matricaria lactone (MAT) and (4)-lachnophyllum lactone (LAC) are natural acetylenic furanones with bioherbicidal potential. This study evaluates their possibilities and ecotoxicological impact on aquatic (, , and ) and terrestrial (, ) model organisms. MAT exhibited rapid degradation, with 90% decomposition within 24 h and over 98% by day 16, while LAC was more stable, degrading by only 8.

(4)-Lachnophyllum Lactone, a Metabolite with Phytotoxic and Antifungal Activity against Pests Affecting Mediterranean Agriculture: A New Versatile and Easy Scalable Parallel Synthesis.

A methodology for the total and modulable synthesis of (4)-lachnophyllum lactone (), on a gram scale, is reported for the first time. The present work started with the design of a retrosynthetic pathway for the target compound, with the key step identified in Pd-Cu bimetallic cascade cross-coupling cyclization. (4)-Lachnophyllum lactone () is an acetylenic furanone previously isolated, in a low amount, from the organic extract of the autotrophic weed.

Sesquiterpene Lactones Isolated from L. subsp. Inhibit the Radicle Growth of Broomrape Weeds.

The plant L. subsp has been investigated as a potential source of inhibitors of broomrape radicle growth. The latter are weeds that pose a threat to agriculture and for which there are few methods available for the control of infestations.

Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) Study of -Cinnamic Acid and Derivatives on the Parasitic Weed .

Yunck. is a parasitic weed responsible for severe yield losses in crops worldwide. The selective control of this weed is scarce due to the difficult application of methods that kill the parasite without negatively affecting the infected crop.

Identification of Structural Features of Hydrocinnamic Acid Related to Its Allelopathic Activity against the Parasitic Weed .

is a parasitic weed species that inflicts worldwide noxious effects in many broadleaf crops due to its capacity to withdraw nutrients and water directly from the crop vascular system using haustorial connections. control in the majority of crops affected is non-existent, and thus, research for the development of control methods is needed. Hydrocinnamic acid occurs naturally in the rhizosphere, playing regulatory roles in plant-plant and plant-microbe communities.

Characterization of Allelochemicals against Broomrape Weeds.

The study of allelopathic activity of plants and the isolation and characterization of the responsible allelochemicals can lead to the development of environment friendly alternative approaches to weed control. species are invasive weeds that use allelopathic activity as part of a successful strategy to outcompete neighboring plants. Broomrape weeds are parasitic plants that use host-induced germination and the formation of a haustorium as strategies to infect host plants.

Iridoid Glycosides Isolated from Identified as Inhibitors of Radicle Growth.

is an obligate holoparasitic plant with noxious effects in sunflower crops. is a facultative hemiparasitic plant that infects ruderal plants without noxious significance in agriculture and is known to produce a wide spectrum of bioactive metabolites. The objective of this study was to evaluate the allelopathic effects of on the growth of seedlings.

Specialized Metabolites from the Allelopathic Plant as Potential Biopesticides.

To cope with the rising food demand, modern agriculture practices are based on the indiscriminate use of agrochemicals. Although this strategy leads to a temporary solution, it also severely damages the environment, representing a risk to human health. A sustainable alternative to agrochemicals is the use of plant metabolites and plant-based pesticides, known to have minimal environmental impact compared to synthetic pesticides.

Genetic and physiological characterization of sunflower resistance provided by the wild-derived Or gene against highly virulent races of Orobanche cumana Wallr.

Or confers post-attachment resistance to Orobanche cumana and is located in a 1.38 Mbp genomic interval containing a cluster of receptor-like kinase and receptor-like protein genes with nine high-confidence candidates. Sunflower broomrape is a holoparasitic angiosperm that parasitizes on sunflower roots, severely constraining crop yield.

Effects of Benzoquinones on Radicles of and Species.

The holoparasitic broomrape weeds ( and species) cause severe yield losses throughout North Africa, the Middle East, and Southern and Eastern Europe. These parasitic weeds form an haustorium at the tip of their radicles to infect the crop upon detection of the host-derived haustorium-inducing factors. Until now, the haustorial induction in the broomrapes remains less studied than in other parasitic plant species.

Search for Resistant Genotypes to Infection in Two Legume Species, and .

The dodders ( spp.) are parasitic plants that feed on the stems of their host plants. is one of the most damaging parasitic plants for the worldwide agricultural production of broad-leaved crops.

Allelopathic Effect of Quercetin, a Flavonoid from Roots in the Radicle Growth of : Quercetin Natural and Semisynthetic Analogues Were Used for a Structure-Activity Relationship Investigation.

Allelopathic potential of buckwheat roots on the radicle growth of the broomrape weed species and was studied. Buckwheat root exudates induced a significant growth inhibition in radicles but radicles of were not affected. Among the metabolites present in the root organic extract we identified the flavonol quercetin and the stilbene -coumaric acid methyl ester with only quercetin showing inhibitory effect on .

Resistance against in Bitter Vetch () Germplasm Based on Reduced Induction of Germination.

Bitter vetch ( (L.) Willd.) is a legume well adapted to cultivation in marginal areas, being an important source of protein for animal feed in low input cropping systems.

Identification of Germplasm Resistant to .

Bitter vetch ( L.) is an ancient grain legume used as animal feed in the Mediterranean basin. This legume has a large economical potential because of its high yield under low inputs and good protein content, as well as resistance to cold and drought.

Management of Infection by Parasitic Weeds: A Review.

Parasitic plants rely on neighboring host plants to complete their life cycle, forming vascular connections through which they withdraw needed nutritive resources. In natural ecosystems, parasitic plants form one component of the plant community and parasitism contributes to overall community balance. In contrast, when parasitic plants become established in low biodiversified agroecosystems, their persistence causes tremendous yield losses rendering agricultural lands uncultivable.

Inuloxin E, a New Seco-Eudesmanolide Isolated from , Stimulating Seed Germination.

A new sesquiterpenoid belonging to the subgroup seco-eudesmanolides and named inuloxin E was isolated from , together with the already known sesquiterpenoids inuloxins A-D and α-costic acid. Inuloxin E was characterized by spectroscopic data (essentially NMR and ESI MS) as 3-methylene-6-(1-methyl-4-oxo-pentyl)-3a,4,7,7a-tetrahydro-3-benzofuran-2-one. Its relative configuration was determined by comparison with the closely related inuloxin D and chemical conversion of inuloxin E into inuloxin D and by the observed significant correlation in the NOESY spectrum.

A Novel Electron Microscopic Characterization of Core/Shell Nanobiostimulator Against Parasitic Plants.

Nanoencapsulation has proven to be an efficient route to increase significantly the solubility and bioavailability of organic compounds. This aspect of nanotechnology is illustrated for the case of phthalimide-lactone (PL), a recently synthesized strigolactone mimic whose very limited solubility in water, as a free chemical, precludes its practical use as an agrochemical in the fight against parasitic plants. Pluronic F-127 (P127) nanoparticles functionalized with PL have been synthesized and embedded in a polymeric matrix of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA).

Complexation of sesquiterpene lactones with cyclodextrins: synthesis and effects on their activities on parasitic weeds.

Allelochemicals are safer, more selective and more active alternatives than synthetic agrochemicals for weed control. However, the low solubility of these compounds in aqueous media limits their use as agrochemicals. Herein, we propose the application of α-, β- and γ-cyclodextrins to improve the physicochemical properties and biological activities of three sesquiterpene lactones: dehydrocostuslactone, costunolide and (-)-α-santonin.

Investigation of Amino Acids As Herbicides for Control of Parasitism in Red Clover.

Certain amino acids induce inhibitory effects in plant growth due to feedback inhibition of metabolic pathways. The inhibition patterns depend on plant species and the plant developmental stage. Those amino acids with inhibitory action on specific weeds could be utilized as herbicides, however, their use for weed control has not been put into practice.

The Effect of Infection Severity in Faba Bean, Field Pea, and Grass Pea Productivity.

Broomrape weeds ( and spp.) are root holoparasites that feed off a wide range of important crops. Among them, attacks legumes complicating their inclusion in cropping systems along the Mediterranean area and West Asia.

Trophic Relationships between the Parasitic Plant Species Phelipanche ramosa (L.) and Different Hosts Depending on Host Phenological Stage and Host Growth Rate.

Phelipanche ramosa (L.) Pomel (branched broomrape) is a holoparasitic plant that reproduces on crops and also on weeds, which contributes to increase the parasite seed bank in fields. This parasite extracts all its nutrients at the host's expense so that host-parasite trophic relationships are crucial to determine host and parasite growth.

Induction of Haustorium Development by Sphaeropsidones in Radicles of the Parasitic Weeds Striga and Orobanche. A Structure-Activity Relationship Study.

Crop attack by parasitic weeds such as Striga and Orobanche occurs through developmental processes triggered by host chemodetection. Seeds of those weed species remain dormant in the soil until germination is triggered by host root exudates. The development of haustorium, a parasitic plant organ that invades the host to withdraw its nutrients, is also initiated in Orobanchaceae by host molecular cues.

Phthalimide-derived strigolactone mimics as germinating agents for seeds of parasitic weeds.

Background: Broomrapes attack important crops, cause severe yield losses and are difficult to eliminate because their seed bank is virtually indestructible. In the absence of a host, the induction of seed germination leads to inevitable death due to nutrient starvation. Synthetic analogues of germination-inducing factors may constitute a cheap and feasible strategy to control the seed bank.