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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #245995
Title: Germination Arrest Factor (GAF): A Naturally Occurring Herbicide that Targets Grassy Weeds

Author
item Banowetz, Gary
item Azevedo, Mark
item ARMSTRONG, D - Oregon State University
item Halgren, Anne
item MILLS, D - Oregon State University

Submitted to: Seed Production Research at Oregon State University
Publication Type: Experiment Station
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/28/2009
Publication Date: 3/31/2009
Citation: Banowetz, G.M., Azevedo, M.D., Armstrong, D.J., Halgren, A.B., Mills, D.I. Germination Arrest Factor (GAF): A Naturally Occurring Herbicide that Targets Grassy Weeds. Seed Production Research at Oregon State University. 2009. p. 101-103.

Interpretive Summary: Certain strains of naturally-occurring soil bacteria were found to produce a substance (GAF) that arrests the germination of grassy weeds that are problematic in agricultural production. This germination arrest action represents a naturally occurring herbicide that may have utility in reducing the presence of certain grassy weeds in grass seed production, and in turfmanagement.

Technical Abstract: A compound produced by naturally-occurring rhizobacteria was discovered that arrests the germination of a variety of grassy weeds that are important in agricultural production. A bioassay was developed to provide a quantitative indication of the effect of the germination arrest factor (GAF) on a Poa sp., grasses grown for seed, cereals, and a variety of dicot plants. In general, the dicots were less affected by GAF. In these bioassays, GAF was particularly effective in arresting the germination of Poa annua (annual bluegrass), a weed whose presence in grass seed shipments seriously reduces the market value of the seed.