title: Crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) allelochemicals that interfere with crop growth and the soil microbial community.
abstract: Three chemicals, veratric acid, maltol, and (−)-loliolide, were isolated from crabgrass and their structures were identified by spectroscopic analysis. The chemicals were detected in crabgrass root exudates and rhizosphere soils, and their concentrations ranged from 0.16 to 8.10 μg/g. At an approximate concentration determined in crabgrass root exudates, all chemicals significantly inhibited the growth of wheat, maize, and soybean and reduced soil microbial biomass carbon. Phospholipid fatty acid profiling showed that veratric acid, maltol, and (−)-loliolide affected the signature lipid biomarkers of soil bacteria, actinobacteria, and fungi, resulting in changes in soil microbial community structures. There were significant relationships between crop growth and soil microbes under the chemicals' application. Chemical-specific changes in the soil microbial community generated negative feedback on crop growth. The results suggest that veratric acid, maltol, and (−)-loliolide released from crabgrass may act as allelochemicals interfering with crop growth and the soil microbial community.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Shenyang 110016, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Chui-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Yong-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiao-Hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D039903:Actinobacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002681:China; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D031746:Digitaria / Q000737:chemistry*; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D006540:Herbicides / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010675:Pheromones / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053147:Plant Exudates / Q000737:chemistry*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*; D011753:Pyrones / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013025:Glycine max / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D014908:Triticum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D014641:Vanillic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D003313:Zea mays / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D015415:Biomarkers; D006540:Herbicides; D010675:Pheromones; D053147:Plant Exudates; D011753:Pyrones; D012987:Soil; C009333:veratric acid; C008316:maltol; D014641:Vanillic Acid; C030425:loliolide