Allelopathic substance in rice root exudates: Rediscovery of momilactone B as an allelochemical

Published Date
2004, Vol.161(3):271–276, doi:10.1078/0176-1617-01188

Author 

• Hisashi Kato-Noguchi ^a,,

• aDepartment of Biochemistry and Food Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Miki, Kagawa 761-0795, Japan

Received 15 April 2003. Accepted 20 August 2003. Available online 4 November 2004. 

Summary

Much research on rice allelopathy has been directed toward the selection of allelopathic rice strains and the identification of allelochemicals in rice. This paper briefly summarizes recent progress in the rice allelopathy and focuses on rediscovery of momilactone B as an allelochemical. A large number of rice varieties were found to inhibit the growth of several plant species when grown together under field and/or laboratory conditions. These findings suggest that rice probably produces and releases allelochemical(s) into the environment. The putative compound causing the inhibitory effect of rice was recently isolated from rice root exudates, and the chemical structure of the inhibitor was determined by spectral data as momilactone B. In addition, it has been found that momilactone B is released from rice roots into the neighboring environment, and the release level of momilactone B from rice may be sufficient to cause growth inhibition of neighboring plants. These findings suggest that momilactone B may play an important role in rice allelopathy.

Key words

allelopathy

allelochemical

bioassay

competition

growth inhibitor

momilactone B

Oryza sativa

rice root exudate

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