Evaluation of volatile compounds on the germination of seventeen species of weed seeds

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry Vol. 38; no. 3; pp. 856 - 859
• Main Authors: Leather, Gerald R, French, Richard C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 01-03-1990
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; COMPOSE VOLATIL; COMPUESTO VOLATIL; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Generalities, botany, ecology, damages, economic importance; GERMINACION; GERMINATION; INHIBICION; INHIBITION; MALEZAS; MAUVAISE HERBE; Parasitic plants. Weeds; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Weeds; Volatile compound; Monocotyledones; Seeds; Weed; Aliphatic compound; Nitrogen heterocycle; Germination; Stimulation; Natural compound; Biological activity; Cyclic compound; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Inhibition
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf00093a056

Seventeen species of weed seeds were evaluated for their germination response to twelve naturally occurring, or related, volatile compounds. Germination of curly dock (Rumex crispus) was stimulated in darkness by 0.01 and 0.1 mL of methyl salicylate/10 L of air. Styrene, safrole, 2-cyanopyridine, and 5-methyl-2-hexanone also stimulated the dark germination of curly dock. Red sorrel (Rumex acetosella) dark germination was 67% (controls 3.4%) when exposed to styrene vapor. Methyl salicylate and benzyl acetate stimulated johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) germination in darkness and light. Inhibition of germination was the usual response in a majority of tests. Vinylpyridines inhibited germination of most of the species tested