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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Crop Bioprotection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #64716
Title: ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF (3-METHOXYPHENYL)ACETONITRILE AS A PHYTOTOXIC COMPONENT OF MEADOWFOAM (LIMNANTHES ALBA) SEEDMEAL

Author
item Vaughn, Steven
item BOYDSTON, RICK - ARS-USDA-IAREC,PROSSER WA
item MALLORY-SMITH, CAROL - OR STATE U, CORVALLIS, OR

Submitted to: Weed Science Society of America Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/8/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Meadowfoam (Limnanthes alba Hartweg ex. Benth) is a commercial oilseed crop which is grown principally in the Willamette Valley of Oregon for its unusual fatty acids which are of value in the manufacture of cosmetics, lubricants, and plastics. Meadowfoam seeds also contain glucosinolates which would be expected to be present in the residual meal after the oil is extracted. We are investigating the use of meadowfoam seedmeal as a soil amendment which would serve as a fertilizer while also reducing soilborne pests and weeds in horticultural crops. Ethyl ether, ethanol and water extracts of the seedmeal were prepared and bioassayed against several species. Both the ethyl ether and ethanol fractions exhibited phytotoxicity against all of the bioassay species. (3-Methoxyphenyl) acetonitrile was isolated from both ether and ethanol fractions and accounted for the activity. Both solvent extracted and unextracted seedmeal were added to potting medium containing seeds of bioassay species. Although the phytotoxicity of the unextracted seedmeal was greater, the extracted seedmeal was also phytotoxic. Glucosinolate analysis of the extracted seedmeal indicated that significant levels of the parent glucosinolate, glucolimnanthin, remained after solvent extraction; hydrolysis products of the residual glucolimnanthin may account for the observed phytotoxicity of the extracted seedmeal.