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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Oxford, Mississippi » Natural Products Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #136592
Title: MODE OF ACTION, LOCALIZATION OF PRODUCTION, CHEMICAL NATURE, AND ACTIVITY OF SORGOLEONE: A POTENT PSII INHIBITOR IN SORGHUM SPP. ROOT EXUDATES

Author
item CZARNOTA, MARK - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item PAUL JR, REX
item DAYAN, FRANCK
item NIMBAL, CHANDRASHEKHAR - FREMONT, CA
item WESTON, LESLIE - CORNELL UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Weed Technology
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2001
Publication Date: 6/1/2001
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: This is a Symposium review.

Technical Abstract: The root exudates produced by sorghums contain a biologically active constituent known as sorgoleone. Seven sorghum accessions were evaluated for their exudate components. Except for johnsongrass, which yielded 14.8 mg root exudate/g fresh root wt, sorghum accessions consistently yielded approximately 2 mg root exudate/g fresh root wt. Exudates contained four to six major components, with sorgoleone being the major component (>85%). Three-dimensional structure analysis was performed to further characterize sorgoleone's mode of action. These studies indicated that sorgoleone required about half the amount of free energy (493.8 kcal/mol) compared to plastoquinone (895.3 kcal/mol) to dock into the QB-binding site of the photosystem II complex of higher plants. Light, cryo-scanning, and transmission electron microscopy were utilized in an attempt to identify the cellular location of root exudate production. From the ultrastructure analysis, it is clear that exudate is being produced in the root hairs and being deposited between the plasmalemma and cell wall. The exact manufacturing and transport mechanism of the root exudate is still unclear. Studies were also conducted on sorgoleone's soil persistence and soil activity. Soil impregnated with sorgoleone had activity against a number of plant species. Recovery rates of sorgoleone-impregnated soil ranged from 85% after 1 h to 45% after 24 h. Growth reduction of 9 14-d-old weed species was observed with foliar applications of sorgoleone.