H. Katonoguchi et al., ALLELOPATHY OF OATS .1. ASSESSMENT OF ALLELOPATHIC POTENTIAL OF EXTRACT OF OAT SHOOTS AND IDENTIFICATION OF AN ALLELOCHEMICAL, Journal of chemical ecology, 20(2), 1994, pp. 309-314
The allelopathic potential of oat (Avena sativa L.) extracts was inves
tigated under laboratory conditions. The ethyl ether-, acetone-, and w
ater-soluble fractions obtained from the extract of oat shoots inhibit
ed the germination and growth of roots and hypocotyls of lettuce (Lact
uca sativa L.). The inhibitory activity of the water-soluble fraction
was maximum, followed by that of ethyl ether-soluble and acetone-solub
le fraction. An active principle of the water-soluble fraction was iso
lated and its structure was determined by spectral data as L-tryptopha
n. L-Tryptophan inhibited the growth of hypocotyls and roots of lettuc
e seedlings at concentrations greater than 0.03 and 0.1 mM, respective
ly. These results suggested that L-tryptophan may be an allelochemical
which affects the growth or germination of different plant species.