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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Oxford, Mississippi » Natural Products Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #283142
Title: Herbicidal activity of formulated sorgoleone, a natural product of sorghum root exudate

Author
item UDDIN, MD ROMIJ - Chungnam National University
item PARK, SAN UN - Chungnam National University
item Dayan, Franck
item PYON, JONG YEONG - Korean Advanced Institute Of Science And Technology (KAIST)

Submitted to: Pesticide Management Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/5/2013
Publication Date: 6/20/2013
Citation: Uddin, M., Park, S., Dayan, F.E., Pyon, J. 2013. Herbicidal activity of formulated sorgoleone, a natural product of sorghum root exudate. Pesticide Management Science. 70:252-257.

Interpretive Summary: Sorgoleone is an allelochemical (natural herbicide) produced by the roots of sorghum. This paper reports a new formulation that enhances the activity of the extract so that it can be used as a natural herbicide applied by conventional means.

Technical Abstract: The allelochemical, sorgoleone, a major component of the hydrophobic root exudates of Sorghum bicolor, was formulated as a wettable powder [WP] and evaluated as a natural herbicide on several weed and crop species under different growth conditions. Formulated sorgoleone suppressed germination and shoot growth of weeds, with broadleaf species showing greater susceptibility than grass weed species. Germination and growth of broadleaf weed species were completely suppressed at 0.2 g ai/L sorgoleone in a growth chamber study. The wettable formulation of sorgoleone also strongly inhibited the growth of weeds in pre- and post-emergence applications under greenhouse conditions. Broadleaf weeds were more susceptible than grass species to both methods of application. In all studies, growth was suppressed in more than 90% of the broadleaf weeds and two species, in particular, Rumex japonicus and Plantago asiatica, were completely suppressed at 0.4 kg ai/ha sorgoleone. The crop species on the other hand were much more tolerant to sorgoleone, with at most 30% inhibition at the highest rate of 0.4 kg ai/ha sorgoleone. The results of this study reveal that sorgoleone, after formulation as a WP, is more effective in inhibiting weed growth, and most crop species are tolerant to it. The strong weed suppressive ability of formulated sorgoleone therefore offers interesting possibilities as an effective natural environment-friendly approach for weed management.