ARS | Publication request: THREE METHODS FOR THE EVALUATION OF ALLELOPATHIC POTENTIAL IN SWEETPOTATO

Submitted to: Clemson University Vegetable Report
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: February 19, 1999
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Previously it was shown that resin glycosides, produced in the sin tissue of sweetpotato roots, are almost solely responsible for chemical weed suppression. Three parameters, i.e. suppression of yellow nutsedge growth (greenhouse study), inhibition of proso-millet seed germination by periderm extracts (in vitro), and quantification of resin glycosides (HPLC), were used to determine allelopathic potentials of 11 germplasm sources. All three methods identified the cultivars 'Excel', 'Regal' and 'Sumor' as having the strongest potential. The HPLC method used to quantify resin glycoside content, is best suited to estimate relative allelopathic potentials of large numbers of sweetpotato lines generated routinely in breeding programs.