Weeds are one of the important factors affecting the growth of crops. There are about 30000 species of weeds widely distributed in the world. Yield losses from weeds account for about 9.7% of total crop yields every year. Therefore, weed control has always been a major aspect of crop yield improvement and environmental protection. In the last hundred years, synthetic chemical herbicides have been effectively employed to control various weeds for increasing crop yields. However, they have caused many serious side-effects such as decline of soil and water quality, herbicide residues and adverse effects on non-target organisms. In particular, herbicide residues may cause many diseases, such as Handi God's syndrome, dwarfism, and allergies. Weeds harbor diverse microorganisms and some may product metabolites with diverse biological activities, which are highly effective for weed control. Metabolites used as herbicides are considered environmentally friendly and are very attractive for agricultural applications.
Applications
Microbial metabolites are a new kind of herbicides that can effectively control weeds. These microbial metabolites are always phytotoxins that cause pathogenicity, destroy weed structure and lead them to produce necrotic lesions or chlorotic halo. Fungal, bacterial, and actinomycete metabolites (phytotoxins) are often used as herbicides.
- Fungal phytotoxins used as herbicides
Plant pathogens, especially fungi, are able to induce the symptom of diseases in their respective hosts through the phytotoxins they produce. Phytotoxins in fungi have herbicidal activity and are used as herbicides. For example, AAL-toxin, a fungal phytotoxin, can be used to control weeds by suppressing cearmide synthetase and inducing sphingol accumulation that leads to membrane break[1].
- Bacterial phytotoxins used as herbicides
Gram-postive bacteria have the ability to produce phytotoxins that can be used as herbicides. For example, a phytotoxin from Pseudomonas syringe pv. phaseolicola is called phaseolotoxin causes halo blight disease and localized death on common bean and kudzu. Once phaseolotoxin infects the plant root, it will spread to the shoot terminus, causing stunting, chlorosis and foliage necrotic lesions.
- Actinomycete phytotoxins used as herbicides
Phytotoxins produced by actinomycetes have been used as herbicides for a long time. For example, Streptomyces saganonensis is a producer of herbicidins and herbimycins, which are typical phytotoxins. Herbicidins are used to control weeds in paddy field as selective herbicides, and herbimycins are used to control monocotyledonous and dicotylous weeds[2].
What Can We Do?
Alfa Chemistry has a profound research foundation in the field of herbicides. In our company, you can find the appropriate metabolites for the research of herbicides. Alfa Chemistry will serve you with the most abundant experience and affordable price. Please feel free to contact us if you have a need.
References
- Li, Y.; et al. Research progress on microbial herbicides. Crop Protection. 2003, 2(22): 247-252.
- Stephen, O.D.; et al. Herbicides from natural compounds. Weed Technology. 1987, 1(2): 122-128.
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