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ARTICLE

Allelopathic Potential and Mechanism of Rosebay Willowherb [Chamaenerion angustifolium (L.) Scop.] Demonstrated on Model Plant Lettuce

Hailin Shi^#, Shiwei Sun^#, Xiaohong Liu, Jiahe Fan, Jin Wang, Ke Zhao, Wei Wang^*

Department of Natural Medicine and Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China

* Corresponding Author: Wei Wang. Email:
# These authors contribute equally to this work and joint first authors

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2021, 90(1), 159-170. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2020.011620

Received 20 May 2020; Accepted 17 June 2020; Issue published 20 November 2020

Abstract

Allelopathic plants are important resources for the discovery of bioherbicides. Rosebay willowherb [Chamaenerion angustifolium (L.) Scop. syn. Epilobium angustifolium L.] widely distributes in Western Asia, Europe, and North America, and behaves as a dominant species within the community due to the production of substances that restrict growth of other plants. This study aims at investigating the allelopathic potential of rosebay willowherb by evaluation of the effects of aqueous extracts from different parts on seed germination and seedling growth in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), as well as measuring the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and structural analysis of root tips via scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy. It was observed that the aqueous extracts from the leaves of rosebay willowherb had the strongest inhibitory effect on the germination index, germination energy and total germination of lettuce seeds, followed by capsular fruits and flowers, and the inhibition effect of stems was the weakest. All aqueous extracts (100 mg/mL) showed a significant inhibitory effect on radicle elongation of lettuce seedlings. Additionally, after treatment with the aqueous extract of rosebay willowherb leaves, accumulation of reactive oxygen species increased in columella cells, which correlated with disruption of root tip structure.

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