Exploration of Korean Native Plants with Herbicidal Active Substances (V)

Minji Hong1   Nam-Kyu Cho2   Sela Bo1   Hyejeong Jang1   Ki Hwan Hwang2   Kandhasamy Sowndhararajan3   Sun hee Hong4   Yong Ho Lee4   Songmun Ho Kim1,*   

1School of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
2Moghu Research Center Ltd., Daejeon 34115, Korea
3Department of Botany, Kongunadu Arts and Science College, Coimbatore 641029, Tamil Nadu, India
4Department of Plant Life and Environmental Science, Hankyong National University, Ansung 17579, Korea

Abstract

Herbicide production companies around the world are searching for new compounds from plants with new modes of action. The objective of this study was to discover Korean native plants with herbicidal activity. After obtaining crude methanol extracts from 63 species of native plants in Korea, in vitro seed germination bioassay was performed by measuring shoot length and weight of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) and morning glory (Ipomoea nil [L.] Roth) in 24-well plates. After the soil and foliage treatments under greenhouse conditions, the herbicidal symptoms were documented in the leaves of various broadleaf weeds and crops based on visual symptoms. Out of 63 species of Korean native plants, herbicidal activity was observed for 29 species against rapeseed (GR50 value of 1,000 to 2,000 µg-1) and 4 species against morning glory. In particular, Melilotus suaveolens and Melilotus albus exhibited moderate herbicidal activity against both rapeseed and morning glory. In the greenhouse experiment, the application of extracts on the soil did not show any herbicidal effect. In the case of foliage treatment (4 kg ai ha-1) of Dicentra spectabilis, Thlaspi arvense, Rumex crispus and Bromus japonicas, the leaves of Echinochloa crus-galli were twisted and deformed, and the growth was inhibited. The results revealed that plant samples are a potential source for the development of bioherbicides with new mechanisms of action.

Figures & Tables

Fig. 1. (A) Effect of foliar treatment of MeOH extracts on several plants in a greenhouse condition. Plant growth is retarded by the application of MeOH extract. (B) Symptoms of MeOH extracts (4 kg ai ha) on banrnyardgrass () at 7 days after treatment. The several plants (from front left in pot) are banrnyardgrass (), crabgrass (), black grass (Alopecurus myrosuroides), perennial ryegrass (), (from behind left) red morningglory (Quamoclit coccinea), velvetleaf (), pig weed (Amaranthus retroflexus), cocklebur ().