title: Contribution of a phytotoxic compound to the allelopathy of Ginkgo biloba.
abstract: Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L.) has not changed over 121 million years. There may be unknown special strategy for the survival. Gingko litter inhibited the growth of weed species ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.). The inhibition was greater with the litter of the close position than that of the far position from the gingko tree. A phytotoxic substance, 2-hydroxy-6-(10-hydroxypentadec-11-enyl)benzoic acid (HHPEBA) was isolated in the litter. HHPEBA concentration was greater in the litter of the close position than that of the far position from the tree. HHPEBA inhibited the ryegrass growth at concentrations greater than 3 μM. HHPEBA was estimated to be able to cause 47-62% of the observed growth inhibition of ryegrass by the gingko litter. Therefore, HHPEBA may contribute to the inhibitory effect caused by ginkgo litter and may provide a competitive advantage for gingko to survive through the growth inhibition of the neighboring plants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biological Science; Faculty of Agriculture; Kagawa University; Miki, Kagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato-Noguchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biological Science; Faculty of Agriculture; Kagawa University; Miki, Kagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Sayaka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takeshita
mesh_terms: D064089:Allelopathy / Q000187:drug effects*; D019817:Benzoic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*; D001681:Biological Assay; D020441:Ginkgo biloba / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008129:Lolium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D019817:Benzoic Acid
keywords: Ginkgo biloba; allelopathy; growth inhibitor; litter; phytotoxicity