Allelochemical stress can trigger oxidative damage in receptor plants: mode of action of phytotoxicity.
Plants can interact with other plants through the release of chemical compounds or allelochemicals. These compounds released by donor plants influence germination, growth, development, and establishment of receptor plants; having an important role on the pattern of vegetation, i.e as invasive strategy, and on crop productivity. This phytotoxic or negative effect of the released allelochemicals (allelochemical stress) is caused by modifying or altering diverse metabolic processes, having many molecular targets in the receptor plants. Recently, using an aggressive and allelopathic plant Sicyos deppei as the donor plant, and Lycopersicon esculentum as the receptor plant, we showed that the allelochemicals released by S. deppei caused oxidative damage through an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activation or modification of antioxidant enzymes. Based on this study, we proposed that oxidative stress is one of the mechanisms, among others, by which an allelopathic plant causes phytotoxicity to other plants.
Cruz-Ortega
Rocio
R
Laboratorio de Alelopatía, Departamento de Ecología Funcional; Instituto de Ecologia; Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; Circuito Exterior Universitario; Ciudad Universitaria, México.
Lara-Núñez
Aurora
A
Anaya
Ana Luisa
AL
Science. 2003 Sep 5;301(5638):1377-80
12958360
Plant Physiol Biochem. 2006 Nov-Dec;44(11-12):819-27
17107811
J Chem Ecol. 2005 Nov;31(11):2689-703
16273435
Curr Opin Plant Biol. 2004 Aug;7(4):472-9
15231272
Plant Signal Behav. 2006 Nov;1(6):323-7
19517003
Planta. 2003 Aug;217(4):529-39
12811559
Plant Cell Environ. 2006 Nov;29(11):2009-16
17081237
Physiol Plant. 2002 Sep;116(1):20-27
12207658
Ann Bot. 2006 Dec;98(6):1261-9
17028297