title: Tricolorin A as a natural herbicide.
abstract: Tricolorin A acts as pre- and post-emergence plant growth inhibitor. In  pre-emergence it displays broad-spectrum weed control, inhibiting germination of both monocotyledonous (Lolium mutliflorum and Triticum vulgare) and dicotyledonous (Physalis ixocarpa and Trifolium alexandrinum) seeds, being the dicotyledonous seeds the most inhibited. Tricolorin A also inhibited seedling growth, and seed respiration, and since the concentrations required for inhibiting both germination and respiration were similar, we suggest that respiration is one of its targets. Tricolorin A at 60 µM acts as a post- emergence plant growth inhibitor by reducing dry plant biomass by 62%, 37%, 33%, and 22% for L. multiflorum, T. alexandrinum, T. vulgare, and P. ixocarpa, respectively,  18 days after its application. In order to determine the potency of tricolorin A as a plant growth inhibitor, paraquat was used as control; the results indicate that tricolorin A acts as a non-selective post-emergence plant growth inhibitor similar to paraquat, since both reduced the biomass production in P. ixocarpa and T. alexandrinum. Therefore, we suggest that tricolorin A will be a good biodegradable herbicide for weeds.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México DF, CP 04510, Mexico. blas@unam.mx
authors.forename: Blas
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lotina-Hennsen
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: King-Díaz
authors.forename: Rogelio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pereda-Miranda
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects; D006027:Glycosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006540:Herbicides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008129:Lolium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D010269:Paraquat / Q000494:pharmacology; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D057685:Plant Weeds / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D019657:Solanaceae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D029921:Trifolium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D014908:Triticum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D058728:Weed Control
chemical_list: D006027:Glycosides; D006540:Herbicides; C081262:tricolorin A; D010269:Paraquat