Characterization of the Allelopathic Potential of Sugarcane Leaves and Roots

Sugarcane cultivars that are currently planted are the result of genetic improvement focused on increased crop yield. However, this selection and genetic alteration reduced the competitive potential of sugarcane, as well as its allelopathic capabilities. Many members of the Poaceae family are highly allelopathic. Thus, the objective of this study was to characterize the allelopathic potential of two sugarcane cultivars (CTC 2 and IAC 91109) by bioassay-guided fractionation, isolation, and identification of significant phytotoxins, including those that are lipophilic. For both leaves and roots, alpha-linolenic and linoleic acid were found to be the most phytotoxic compounds found with this approach. Both compounds were phytotoxic when applied in soil and caused light-independent cellular leakage of treated cucumber cotyledon discs. We conclude that some of the phytotoxic effects of sugarcane residues in soil are due to the combined action of alpha-linolenic and linoleic acid.