Thesis (doctoral)--Universität Bonn, 2005. / Downloaded and printed Sept. 10, 2008. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 52-60). Also available via the internet.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1985 B63 / Master of Science

Thesis (M.Inst.Agrar)(Agronomy)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Summary in English. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Sc.(Agric.))(Plant Production)--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Laboratory and greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate the allelopathic effects of the extracts and residue Arctotis arctotoides (L.f.) O. Hoffm on selected vegetable crops. The study aimed to address the following specific objectives to (i) examine the ultra structures of the leaf of A. arctotoides using the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), (ii) carry out comprehensive qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis of the root and shoot materials of the plant, (iii) investigate the allelopathic activities of the root and shoot aqueous extracts of A. arctotoides at concentrations of 10, 8, 6, 4 and 2 mg/ml on germination, radicle and plumule growth of cabbage, carrot, tomato and spinach, (iv) evaluate the inhibitory effects of the dried shoot residue of the plant at 10, 20 and 40 g kg-3 of soil (treatments B, C and D) and the control (treatment A) on the morphology, growth and chlorophyll pigment content of tomato and cabbage transplants at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after transplanting and (v) assess the effects of the dried shoot residue of A. arctotoides on the yield, nutrient uptake by the leaves of tomato and cabbage at 4 and 12 weeks after transplanting. Finally, to analyze the residual mineral content of the soils with tomato and cabbage transplants at 12 weeks after transplanting. The the SEM revealed that anisocytic stomata and glandular trichomes (GTs) were numerous on the abaxial than the adaxial surfaces of A. arctotoides. The non glandular trichomes (NGTs) were also present on both surfaces but lesser on the abaxial. Morphologically, the GTs were peltate, uniseriate and globular head while the NGTs were cylindrical and filamentous with variable number of cells at the basal portion. The energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy of some crystals showed that Na+ Mg2+ and Ca2+ were the major constituents of the crystal deposit found around the GTs and stomata. The results of the phytochemical composition of the root and shoot extracts of A. arctotoides confirmed the occurrence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, saponnins, tannins and triterpenes as the common constituents. In addition, cardiac glycosides and steroids were also detected in the shoot of the A. arctotoides. Quantitative estimation of the chemical constituents of the crude extracts further revealed that the alkaloid content in the root higher (0.97 percent) than the shoot (0.64 percent). The quantity of flavonoids detected in the shoot (1.02 percent) was more than that observed in the root (0.35 percent). Others (phenolics and tannins) were marginal in the two plant parts. The results of the inhibitory effects of the root and shoot aqueous extract at the varying concentrations showed that root extract at 10 mg/ml considerably reduced the germination of cabbage, carrot, tomato and spinach seeds by 84.0, 83.2, 72.8 and 37.4 percent respectively. Incubation of the shoot extract at the same concentration resulted in 100 percent inhibition of cabbage and carrot seed germination whereas those of tomato and spinach were suppressed by 91.5 and 61.2 percent respectively. The two extracts at the varying concentrations also had a significant reduction on the radicle and plumule growth of the four vegetables. Addition of the shoot residue to the soil showed massive chlorosis, necrotic lesions and wilting of tomato and cabbage leaves under treatments C and D at 2 weeks after transplanting. The number of leaves, leaf area, dry shoot and root weight of the two vegetables grown in the amended soils were also drastically reduced. The inhibition percentages due to the addition of the three concentrations of A. arctotoides dried shoot residue on the dry shoot weight at 4 weeks after transplanting were 38.6, 45.5 and 70.3. for tomato and 57.5, 73.3 and 87.5 percent for cabbage. Similarly, the declines in the dry root weight of 61.3, 82.9.4 and 83.4 percent for tomato as well as 53.1, 54.7 and 67.2 percent for cabbages were recorded for the two vegetables under treatment B, C and D during the period. The results further showed that the dry fruit yield and shoot weight of tomato under the treatments B, C and D decreased with increase in shoot residue concentrations of A. arctotoides. Relative to treatment A, no significant differences were recorded in the dry head weight of cabbage under the residue treated groups. The reductions in the fruit yield and fresh head weight caused by treatments C and D were 37.2 and 84.8 percent for tomato and 30.9 and 72.4 percent for cabbage. The findings on the mineral contents in the leaves of the two vegetables revealed significant differences in the uptake of N, Mg, Na, Cu and Fe by tomato leaves. The concentrations of N, K, Na and Zn in cabbage leaves also differed. However, the P content was relatively constant in the leaves of the two vegetables at 4 and 12 weeks after transplanting. At 12 weeks after transplanting, the Fe content in soils with tomato and cabbage treatments C and D was greatly enhanced in comparison with the other nutrients. The residual N, P and Zn detected in soils planted to cabbage were similarly equal among all the groups including the control. Thus, under the greenhouse experiment, Arctotis arctotoides (L.f) O. Hoffm has been shown to contain some phytotoxic chemical compounds in its root and shoot materials. The compounds either singly or collectively have demonstrated some inhibitory potentials on the germination, growth and yields of cabbage, carrot, tomato and spinach evaluated in this study.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Crop Protection, 1996. / Addendum in pocket. Biblography: leaves 162-173.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2007. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: leaf 133-154.

CAPES / O objetivo desse trabalho foi analisar a influência de diferentes concentrações dos extratos brutos etanólicos (EET) e diclorometânicos (EDC) das espécies medicinais antimaláricas Bidens pilosa L. (picão-preto), Phyllanthus niruri L. (quebra-pedra), Petiveria alliacea L. (guiné) e Senna hirsuta L. (fedegoso), sobre a germinabilidade (GER), tempo médio de germinação (TMG), velocidade média de germinação (VMG), comprimento de radícula (RAD) e comprimento de hipocótilo (HIP) de Lactuca sativa L. (alface) e Ipomoea grandifolia (Dammer) O´Donel (corda-de-viola). O delineamento utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado, distribuído em um trifatorial (espécie antimalárica vs. extrator vs. concentração). Os bioensaios foram realizados com quatro repetições de 25 sementes, para os testes germinativos, e 10 sementes pré-germinadas, para os bioensaios de crescimento. As sementes germinadas foram contadas diariamente, para a obtenção do TMG e VMG, enquanto a GER, RAD e HIP foram mensurados após 144 horas da aplicação dos extratos. Paralelamente ao estudo de atividade alelopática, objetivou-se também analisar a atividade antioxidante e antimicrobiana dos EET e EDC das quatro espécies antimaláricas utilizadas nos bioensaios, assim como, da espécie Quassia amara L. (quássiaamarga). As análises antioxidantes foram realizadas através de três metodologias distintas, sendo elas: sequestro do radical ABTS•+ e sequestro do radical DPPH•, ambas realizadas com os EET e EDC, e poder antioxidante de redução do Ferro (FRAP), realizada apenas com os EET, assim como o teor de compostos fenólicos totais (TCF). Os EET foram comparados aos antioxidantes comerciais BHT (butil hidroxitolueno), BHA (butil hidroxianisol) e α-tocoferol. Os resultados dos bioensaios dos extratos brutos das plantas antimaláricas, e suas respectivas concentrações, demonstraram efeitos inibitórios, e em alguns casos estimulatórios, de magnitudes diferentes sobre os processos de germinação e/ou crescimento das espécies alvo. O aumento das concentrações dos EET e EDC de P. alliacea e do EET de S. hirsuta, não afetaram o TMG, VMG e GER de corda-de-viola, sendo que o EDC de P. alliacea também não influenciou sobre RAD e HIP da mesma, enquanto o EET de B. Pilosa apresentou ótimos resultados de inibição do RAD e HIP de alface e GER, TMG, VMG, RAD e HIP de corda-de-viola. Em todas as metodologias de atividade antioxidante analisadas, o EET de Q. amara demonstrou-se como o tratamento mais eficaz, seguido do EET de P. niruri, sendo estes, analisados em Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência de Fase-Reversa (CLAE-FR), evidenciando a presença de rutina, miricetina, quercetina e ácido gálico para ambas as espécies, sendo estes compostos, reconhecidos por suas propriedades antioxidantes. As análises antimicrobianas foram realizadas através da Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM) dos extratos das plantas, com concentrações entre 5,0 e 0,88 mg mL-1, em microplacas de 96 poços inoculadas com Baccilus cereus ATCC 11.778. Os EET de Q. amara, P. niruri e S. hirsuta e o EDC de B. pilosa apresentaram concentração inibitória mínima (MIC) = ≤0,088 mg mL-1. Dessa forma, os dados apresentados nesse estudo indicam, em especial, um potencial uso do EET de B. pilosa e do EET de Q. amara como fontes de moléculas com atividade herbicida, antioxidantes e antimicrobianas, sendo estes extratos, importantes fontes para a busca de moléculas que possam ser utilizadas como protótipos para o desenvolvimento de novos produtos nas indústrias de agroquímicos, alimentícia e /ou farmacêutica, requerendo estudos futuros quanto a extração, purificação, isolamento e identificação dos compostos bioativos e seus respectivos mecanismos de ação. / The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of different concentrations of crude ethanol extracts (EET) and dichloromethanic (EDC) of antimalarial medicinal species Bidens pilosa L. (beggartick), Phyllanthus niruri L. (shatter stone), Petiveria alliacea L. (guinea) and Senna hirsuta L. (sicklepod) on germination (GER), mean germination time (TMG), mean speed of germination (VMG), radicle (RAD) and hypocotyls (HIP) of Lactuca sativa L. (lettuce) and Ipomoea grandifolia (Dammer) O'Donel (rope-glory). The experimental design was completely randomized, distributed in a factorial (species antimalarial vs. extractor vs. concentration). Bioassays were performed with four replicates of 25 seeds for germination tests, and 10 pre-germinated seeds for the growth bioassays. Germinated seeds were counted daily for obtaining the TMG and VMG while GER, DAR and HIP were measured after 144 hours of application of the extracts. In parallel to the study of allelopathic activity aimed also to examine the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of EET and EDC of four malarial species used in bioassays, as well as the species Quassia amara L. (quássia amarga). Analyses antioxidants were performed through three different methodologies, namely: scavenging of ABTS•+, scavenging DPPH•, both performed with EET and EDC, and antioxidant power reduction iron (FRAP), performed with EET, as well as the content of total phenolic compounds (TCF). The EET were compared to commercial antioxidant BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and α-tocopherol. The results of bioassays of extracts of plants antimalarial and their respective concentrations showed inhibitory effects, and in some cases stimulatory, different magnitudes of the processes of germination and/or growth of the target species. Increasing the concentration of EET and EDC of P. alliacea and EET of S. hirsuta, did not show significant results for variables TMG, VMG and GER of corda-de-viola, and the EDC of P. alliacea also did not influence RAD HIP. The EET of B. Pilosa showed excellent results compared to inhibition of RAD and HIP lettuce and GER, TMG, VMG and RAD rope-glory, suggesting the use of this extract for future work of purification, isolation and identification of bioactive substances. In all methods of antioxidant activity analyzed, the EET of Q. amara shown as the most effective treatment, followed by EET of P. niruri, which are analyzed in High Performance Liquid Chromatography Reverse-Phase (HPLC-RP), indicating the presence of rutin, myricetin, quercetin and gallic acid for both species, these compounds being recognized for its antioxidant properties. Analyses were performed using antimicrobial minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the plant extracts with concentrations between 5.0 and 0.88 mg mL-1 in 96-well microplates inoculated with Baccilus cereus ATCC 11.778. The EET of Q. amara, P. niruri and S. hirsuta and EDC of B. pilosa showed minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) = ≤ 0.088 mg mL-1. Thus, the data presented in this study indicate the potential use of the EET of B. pilosa and EET of Q. amara as sources of molecules having herbicidal activity, antioxidants and antimicrobial properties, and these extracts are important sources for the search of molecules that can be used as a prototype for the development of new products in the agrochemical industries, food and/or pharmaceuticals, requiring future studies on the extraction, purification, isolation and identification of bioactive compounds and their mechanisms of action.

Conyza bonariensis, flaxleaf fleabane, is a major weed threat on cultivated and non-cultivated lands, gardens, roadsides and waste places. The weed in South Africa is believed to have originated from South America, and the first herbarium sample is from a plant collected in May 1895 at Franschhoek. Adding to its problem status is the recent discovery that certain C. bonariensis biotypes in South Africa and other parts of the world are resistant to the herbicide glyphosate, and in certain cases to both glyphosate and paraquat. Despite its invasiveness and ability to compete severely with crops, the mechanisms of interference (= allelopathy + competition) employed by C. bonariensis are poorly understood and have not yet been thoroughly investigated. There is a need to expand on the knowledge of interference mechanisms of C. bonariensis in order to better understand its success as a weed, and to improve on knowledge for the successful management of this weed. In the present study, allelopathic potential of C. bonariensis was assessed, first by means of germination bioassays, followed by investigation employing hydroponics, leachate, and replacement series experiments. In a laboratory bioassay, the plant’s leaves and roots were extracted using two solvents, water and hexane, to which seeds of the test (acceptor) species lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) were exposed in order to determine where the strongest allelopathic potential resides. Moreover, differential potency of crude extracts prepared with the two solvents (polar and non-polar) would at least provide some evidence on the nature of putative allelochemicals involved. Germination bioassays revealed that leaves harboured the strongest allelopathic potential (potency). Water extracts (infusions) caused greater growth inhibition of the test species than hexane extracts. Osmolalities of the water infusions were tested and found not to be inhibitory to germination and early seedling development of lettuce. Following on the germination bioassays, a hydroponic experiment was set up in a greenhouse in order to investigate whether C. bonariensis possesses and releases chemicals with allelopathic potential through its roots. Lettuce top and root growth was significantly reduced by all three populations of C. bonariensis (one from Pretoria; two from the Western Cape). No significant differences were observed in the degree of growth inhibition caused by the three weed populations on the growth of lettuce, except in the case of root dry mass results where the Hatfield population caused more damage (85% growth reduction). The leachate experiment was then performed to determine if leachate from C. bonariensis affected the growth of test species exposed to different leachate concentrations. Although there was no growth inhibition observed for both lettuce and tomato in this experiment, growth stimulation of tomato roots was observed at the highest leachate concentration (100%). Finally, in an attempt to simulate the allelopathic potential of C. bonariensis in a natural field situation, a replacement series experiment was conducted to determine the relative interference of Conyza bonariensis in relation to lettuce and tomato. Dry mass results showed that there was no growth inhibition of both crop species. RYT was > 1 at all weed: crop combinations, which implies that both crop species and C. bonariensis were less affected by interspecific interactions than in their respective monocultures. It is suggested that the results of this study can attributed to methodology and growth media. The results of this study represent the first step in showing that allelopathic potential C. bonariensis may contribute to the success of this weed as an invasive weed species and that this weed should not be allowed to attain significant biomass on crop field. Further research should include field trials that will yield a better understanding of the practical relevance of the allelopathic potential of C. bonariensis. Finally, crop producers and weed management practitioners should recognize that this important weed has the ability to interfere with the growth and development of a crop through two mechanisms, competition plus allelopathy. / Dissertation (MInst Agrar)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Plant Production and Soil Science / unrestricted

A alelopatia, na qual uma espécie causa efeitos negativos sobre outra através da liberação de substâncias químicas, é um fenômeno que pode afetar comunidades vegetais. Em alguns casos, o estabelecimento de arbustos aromáticos em formações densas, com apenas poucas espécies ocorrendo em suas proximidades, é um padrão que tem sido relacionado aos efeitos fitotóxicos dos voláteis que os mesmos liberam. Em campos dos sul do Brasil, esse padrão de estabelecimento frequentemente ocorre para as espécies arbustivas aromáticas Heterothalamus psiadioides Less e Baccharis patens Baker, indicando a possibilidade de alelopatia. Dessa forma, o presente estudo teve como objetivo determinar se H. psiadioides e B. patens são fitotóxicas e se isso implica em efeitos negativos sobre a comunidade vegetal na qual os arbustos ocorrem. Em ensaios em laboratório, os efeitos dos voláteis liberados diretamente das folhas frescas e secas de H. psiadioides e B. patens foram testados sobre a germinação e o crescimento das plantas-alvo alface e cebola nas quatro estações do ano. Em um estudo em campo, foram avaliadas cobertura e biomassa vegetal, número de mudas, diversidade, riqueza, e variáveis de estrutura da vegetação no entorno de ambas as espécies arbustivas e onde não havia arbustos. Nos bioensaios, os voláteis de H. psiadioides e B. patens causaram inibição na porcentagem e velocidade de germinação e redução no tamanho da raiz e da parte aérea das plantas-alvo, sendo que folhas frescas apresentaram maior fitotoxidez. Esses parâmetros foram mais afetados por H. psiadioides que por B. patens em todas as estações, e os efeitos de ambas foram menores no verão. Em relação à investigação em campo, que objetivou avaliar os efeitos da espécie muito fitotóxica H. psiadioides sobre a comunidade vegetal, não foram observadas evidências de alelopatia. Houve maior riqueza e diversidade próximo a H. psiadioides, devido à menor cobertura de gramíneas dominantes. Variáveis de estrutura da vegetação e intensidade de luz explicaram os padrões observados de forma mais conclusiva que alelopatia. Esse estudo sugere que o potencial alelopático de plantas pode ser superestimado em bioensaios e que estudos em campo são necessários para demonstrar se efeitos alelopáticos são realmente relevantes em comunidades vegetais. Ainda, o trabalho ressalta a importância de conduzir estudos mais realistas em laboratório e de utilizar controles em estudos em campo. / Allelopathy, in which a species causes negative effects on another through the release of chemical substances, is a phenomenon that may affect plant communities. In some cases, the establishment of aromatic shrubs in dense stands, with few other species occurring in their surroundings, has been related to the phytotoxic effects of volatiles released by these shrubs. In South Brazilian grasslands, this pattern of establishment often occurs for the aromatic shrub species Heterothalamus psiadioides Less and Baccharis patens Baker, indicating the possibility of allelopathy. Thus, this study aimed to determine if H. psiadioides and B. patens are phytotoxic and if this implicates in negative effects on the plant community in which the shrubs occur. In laboratory assays, the effects of the volatiles released directly from fresh and dry leaves of H. psiadioides and B. patens on germination and growth of the target plants lettuce and onion were evaluated in four seasons. A field study was carried out, in which vegetation cover and biomass, number of seedlings, diversity, richness, and variables of vegetation structure were evaluated in the surroundings of both species and where there were not shrubs. In the bioassays, H. psiadioides and B. patens volatiles inhibited the germination rate and speed of germination and reduced the root and shoot length of the target plants, with fresh leaves showing higher phytotoxicity. These parameters were more strongly affected by H. psiadioides than by B. patens in all seasons, and effects of the both shrubs were lower in summer. In relation to the field investigation that aimed to quantify the effects of the highly phytotoxic H. psiadioides on the plant community, no evidences of allelopathy were found. Richness and diversity were higher near H. psiadioides, due to lower cover of dominant grasses. Variables of vegetation structure and light intensity explained vegetation patterns more conclusively than allelopathy. This study emphasizes that the allelopathic potential of plants can be overestimated in bioassays, and that field studies are necessary to elucidate if allelopathic effects are in fact significant in plant communities. Still, the relevance of conducting more realistic laboratory studies and of using controls in field studies is highlighted.