Tree Fern Cyathea lepifera May Survive by Its Phytotoxic Property

Abstract

Cyatheaceae (tree ferns) appeared during the Jurassic period and some of the species still remain. Those species may have some morphological and/or physiological characteristics for survival. A tree fern was observed to suppress the growth of other ligneous plants in a tropical forest. It was assumed that the fern may release toxic substances into the forest floor, but those toxic substances have not yet been identified. Therefore, we investigated the phytotoxicity and phytotoxic substances of Cyathea lepifera (J. Sm. ex Hook.) Copel. An aqueous methanol extract of C. lepifera fronds inhibited the growth of roots and shoots of dicotyledonous garden cress (Lepidum sativum L.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), and monocotyledonous ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), timothy (Phleum pratense L.), and barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv.). The results suggest that C. lepifera fronds may have phytotoxicity and contain some phytotoxic substances. The extract was purified through several chromatographic steps during which inhibitory activity was monitored, and p-coumaric acid and (-)-3-hydroxy-β-ionone were isolated. Those compounds showed phytotoxic activity and may contribute to the phytotoxic effects caused by the C. lepifera fronds. The fronds fall and accumulate on the forest floor through defoliation, and the compounds may be released into the forest soils through the decomposition process of the fronds. The phytotoxic activities of the compounds may be partly responsible for the fern's survival.

Isolation and Identification of Plant-Growth Inhibitory Constituents from Polygonum chinense Linn and Evaluation of Their Bioherbicidal Potential

“…Compound 1 accumulates in the seedlings of bean varieties through irradiation by light, causing light-induced growth inhibition of bean seedlings [ 63 ]. (−)-3-Hydroxy- β -ionone has also been isolated and identified from various plants, and its growth inhibition potential against a number of species is well reported [ 30 , 47 , 64 , 65 , 66 ]. Aloum et al [ 67 ] also reported that (−)-3-hydroxy- β -ionone retards the colony formation, proliferation, and cell migration of human squamous cell carcinoma.…”

Allelopathic Activity and Characterization of Allelopathic Substances from Elaeocarpus floribundus Blume Leaves for the Development of Bioherbicides

“…It has been reported that the compound accumulates in the seedlings of bean cultivars through irradiation by light, causing light-effected growth suppression of bean seedlings [63]. (3R)-3-hydroxy-β-ionone has also been isolated and identified from different plants and its growth suppression potential against several species is well documented [64][65][66][67]. It has been isolated from moss (Rhynchostegium pallidifolium) and reported as the main phytotoxic compound [68].…”

Complete chloroplast genome molecular structure, comparative and phylogenetic analyses of Sphaeropteris lepifera of Cyatheaceae family: a tree fern from China

“…Niche models indicate that extremely low temperatures, long-term and short-term temperature stability, and precipitation seasonality are important abiotic environmental factors affecting the distribution of S. lepifera 13 . After the leaves of S. lepifera fall, toxic substances such as p -coumaric acid and (-)-3-hydroxy- β -ionone can be decomposed and released to inhibit the growth of other woody plants in tropical forests 14 . Huang et al studied the gametophyte development and young sporophyte morphology of S. lepifera , in which the sperm-egg combination is the key link in sexual reproduction, and the development time of male and female gametes also strongly affects the survival and distribution of S. lepifera 15 .…”