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Phytotoxic Volatiles in the Roots and Shoots of Artemisia tridentata as Detected by Headspace Solid-phase Microextraction and Gas Chromatographic-mass Spectrometry Analysis

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Abstract

In the vicinity of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), the growth of Nicotiana attenuata is negatively affected, in part due to the alleopathic effect of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) which is produced in large quantities by the aerial parts of sagebrush. Preliminary experiments suggested that growth-inhibiting substances were being emitted from the sagebrush roots. To identify the allelochemical secondary metabolites, we tested different root extracts in seedling growth bioassays with the naturally co-occurring native tobacco, Nicotiana attenuata, in a two-chamber Petri dish assay, optimized for tests of volatiles. Fractions rich in volatile compounds were particularly phytotoxic. We analyzed the volatiles emitted from the roots of intact Artemisia tridentata plants grown in soil, sand, and hydroponic cultures by using dynamic headspace extraction, headspace solvent-microextraction (HSME) and headspace solid-phase microextraction (HSPME), and GC-MS. Camphor, 1,8-cineol, nerol, and neryl isovalerate were phytotoxic and released as the major constituents. In addition to the phytotoxic monoterpenes, himachalenes, longifolene, caryophyllene, and acetylenic spiroethers, were found as characteristic components in the root’s volatiles. The allelopathic potential of these root volatiles was compared with that of methyl jasmonate (MeJA), one of the most active compounds emitted from above-ground parts of the plant.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Alexander von Humboldt foundation and Max Planck Society for research grants for ARJ and SZ, the glasshouse team for growing the plants and Emily Wheeler for editorial assistance of the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Strasse 8, 07745, Jena, Germany

    Amir Reza Jassbi, Simin Zamanizadehnajari & Ian Thomas Baldwin

  2. Medicinal and Natural Products Chemistry Research Centre, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Amir Reza Jassbi

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  1. Amir Reza Jassbi
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  2. Simin Zamanizadehnajari
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Correspondence to Amir Reza Jassbi.

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Fig. S1

Paper-disc agar bioassay to evaluate the effect of volatiles on the growth or germination of N. attenuata seedlings; 12 seeds were germinated on the agar in one compartment of a two-chambered Petri dish, and in another the volatile compound was applied to a paper disc (DOC 2985 kb)

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Jassbi, A.R., Zamanizadehnajari, S. & Baldwin, I.T. Phytotoxic Volatiles in the Roots and Shoots of Artemisia tridentata as Detected by Headspace Solid-phase Microextraction and Gas Chromatographic-mass Spectrometry Analysis. J Chem Ecol 36, 1398–1407 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-010-9885-0

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