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Inhibition of Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) Germination and Growth by Benzyl Isothiocyanate, a Natural Toxicant

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Rebecca B. Wolf
Affiliation:
North. Reg. Res. Ctr., Agric. Res. Serv., U.S. Dep. Agric., Peoria, IL 61604
Gayland F. Spencer
Affiliation:
North. Reg. Res. Ctr., Agric. Res. Serv., U.S. Dep. Agric., Peoria, IL 61604
William F. Kwolek
Affiliation:
North. Reg. Res. Ctr., Agric. Res. Serv., U.S. Dep. Agric., Peoria, IL 61604

Abstract

Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) was extracted from mature papaya (Carica papaya L.) seeds and applied to imbibed velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic. ♯3 ABUTH) seeds. Complete inhibition of germination occurred at a concentration of 6 × 10-4 M BITC, and only 28% (compared to controls) of the seeds germinated after 4 days exposure to the 4 × 10-4 M treatment. Corn (Zea mays L. ‘DeKalb XL-66′) was unaffected even at higher concentrations; however, 72% of imbibed soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ‘Tiger’] germinated in 6 × 10-4 M BITC. When this natural inhibitor was applied to etiolated velvetleaf seedlings at 4 × 10-4 M, 100% died in 2 days.

Type
Weed Biology and Ecology
Copyright
Copyright © 1984 by the Weed Science Society of America 

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