Weed pressure determines the chemical profile of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and its allelochemicals potential

Abstract

BACKGROUND Common purslane (Portulaca oleracea) and annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) are important infesting weeds of field crops. Herbicides are mostly used for weed suppression, while their environmental toxicity and resistance in weeds against them demand considering alternative options, such as the use of allelopathic crops for weed management. Wheat is an important allelopathic crop and present research focused on the identification and quantification of benzoxazinoids (BXZs) and polyphenols (phenolic acids and flavonoids) of the wheat accession ‘Ursita’ and to screen its allelopathic impact on P. oleracea and Lolium rigidum through equal‐compartment‐agar (ECA) method. RESULTS Weed germination, radicle length, biomass and photosynthetic pigments were altered following co‐growth of weeds with Ursita for 10‐day. Root exudates from Ursita reduced (29–60%) the seedling growth and photosynthetic pigments of Lolium rigidum depending on co‐culture conditions of planting density. Weed pressure caused significant increase in the production of phenolic acids (vanillic, ferulic, syringic and p‐coumaric acids) and root exudation of BXZs, in particular benzoxazolin‐2‐one (BOA), 2‐hydroxy‐7‐methoxy‐1,4‐benzoxazin‐3‐one (HMBOA), 2‐hydroxy‐1,4‐benzoxazin3‐one (HBOA) and 2,4‐dihydroxy‐1,4‐benzoxazin‐3‐one (DIBOA) in wheat tissues (shoots, roots) and exudate in root rhizosphere agar medium in response to co‐cultivation with Lolium rigidum and P. oleracea, depending on weed/crop density. CONCLUSION The work revealed that Ursita is allelopathic in nature and can be used in breeding programs to enhance its allelopathic activity. Meanwhile, there are opportunities to explore allelopathic effect of wheat cultivars to control P. oleracea and Lolium rigidum under field conditions. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Performance of Some Romanian Winter Wheat Cultivars Under Organic Agriculture Conditions I. Grain Yield

“…This demonstrates that the genetic progress in yield, obtained by breeding programs working under conventional agriculture, was also reflected, at least partially under organic agriculture. It is worth mentioning that in studies performed in the frame of the European research project ECOBREED cultivar URSITA was found to have also other characteristics that are important for organic agriculture, such as resistance to many bunt races, including the ones prevalent in Romania (Pfatrisch et al, 2022) and a higher capacity to exudate compounds with allelopatic effects on some weeds (Hussain et al, 2022).…”

Novel and holistic approaches are required to realize allelopathic potential for weed management

“…Previous works have specifically noted the allelopathic potential of wheat straw (Al Hamdi et al, 2001; Steinsiek et al, 1982), and rye mulch (Tabaglio et al, 2008) on weeds. Given that benzoxazinoid content within plant tissues is likely to be greater than levels in root exudate (Escobar & Niemeyer, 1993; Hussain et al, 2022; Stochmal et al, 2006), the application of cereal debris would increase allelochemical concentration and also delay its release as tissues decompose, potentially delaying degradation of these short‐lived compounds (e.g., Macías et al, 2004).…”

“…This can be highly variable even between biotypes of the same species. However, Xu et al (2021) reported that relatively closely related rice cultivars can be more effective in competitive suppression of paddy weeds in spite of reduced allelochemical exudation, while another recent work appears to suggest that plants more functionally similar to the allelopathic species (and therefore potentially perceived as 'more of a threat' to their niche) will stimulate a stronger allelopathic response, at least in the case of wheat exuding benzoxazinoids (Hussain et al, 2022). Such findings indicate that the correct combination of crops or even cultivars may have potential to stimulate and maximize weed suppression through allelopathy due to these recognition interactions.…”

Effects of different tillage systems and mowing time on nutrient accumulation and forage nutritive value of Cyperus esculentus

“…With mowing time, AN in soil decreased continuously, which hindered the formation of CP in leaves and reduced the forage quality (Table 2; Figure 1). First, wheat is an important allelopathic crop and some substances (such as benzoxazinoids and polyphenols) in its root exudates can inhibit the growth of its neighboring heterologous species (Lendzemo et al, 2009;Hussain et al, 2022). The accumulation of these allelopathic substances in the soil may inhibit the growth of C. esculentus.…”