Phytotoxic Potential and Biological Activity of Three Synthetic Coumarin Derivatives as New Natural-Like Herbicides

Bibliographic Details
Title: Phytotoxic Potential and Biological Activity of Three Synthetic Coumarin Derivatives as New Natural-Like Herbicides
Authors: Fabrizio Araniti, Raffaella Mancuso, Antonio Lupini, Salvatore V. Giofrè, Francesco Sunseri, Bartolo Gabriele, Maria Rosa Abenavoli
Source: Molecules, Vol 20, Iss 10, Pp 17883-17902 (2015)
Publisher Information: MDPI AG, 2015.
Publication Year: 2015
Collection: LCC:Organic chemistry
Subject Terms: Arabidopsis thaliana, Amaranthus retroflexus, Echinochloa crus-galli, germination, root morphology, phytotoxicity, natural-like herbicides, coumarins, Organic chemistry, QD241-441
More Details: Coumarin is a natural compound well known for its phytotoxic potential. In the search for new herbicidal compounds to manage weeds, three synthetic derivatives bearing the coumarin scaffold (1–3), synthesized by a carbonylative organometallic approach, were in vitro assayed on germination and root growth of two noxious weeds, Amaranthus retroflexus and Echinochloa crus-galli. Moreover, the synthetic coumarins 1–3 were also in vitro assayed on seedlings growth of the model species Arabidopsis thaliana to identify the possible physiological targets. All molecules strongly affected seed germination and root growth of both weeds. Interestingly, the effects of synthetic coumarins on weed germination were higher than template natural coumarin, pointing out ED50 values ranging from 50–115 µM. Moreover, all synthetic coumarins showed a strong phytotoxic potential on both Arabidopsis shoot and root growth, causing a strong reduction in shoot fresh weight (ED50 values ≤ 60 µM), accompanied by leaf development and a decrease in pigment content. Furthermore, they caused a strong alteration in root growth (ED50 values ≤ 170 µM) and morphology with evident alterations in root tip anatomy. Taken together, our results highlight the promising potential herbicidal activity of these compounds.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 1420-3049
Relation: http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/20/10/17883; https://doaj.org/toc/1420-3049
DOI: 10.3390/molecules201017883
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/dd4e330bd0d5467993824779e6b40673
Accession Number: edsdoj.4e330bd0d5467993824779e6b40673
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:14203049
DOI:10.3390/molecules201017883
Published in:Molecules
Language:English