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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Houma, Louisiana » Sugarcane Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #179936
Title: AUTOTOXIC AND ALLELOPATHIC ACTIVITY OF POST-HARVEST RESIDUE

Author
item Viator, Ryan
item Johnson, Richard
item Richard Jr, Edward

Submitted to: American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/20/2005
Publication Date: 7/20/2005
Citation: Viator, R.P., Johnson, R.M., Richard Jr, E.P. 2005. Autotoxic and Allelopathic Activity of Post-Harvest Residue [abstract]. Journal of the American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists. 25:121. Available: http://www.assct.org/journal/journal.htm

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Soon after the adoption of green-cane harvesting in Louisiana, USDA-ARS research indicated that a 10-20% (4.5-13.5 t/ha) yield loss was associated with non-removal of post-harvest residue from the row top. Autotoxicity from the decaying residue may be one of the potential causes for this yield reduction. The objective of this experiment was to determine possible autotoxic or allelopathic activity of sugarcane post-harvest residue. Potential allelochemicals were extracted from the residue using distilled water at 25°C with a 1:28 residue to water weight ratio. This extract was diluted with distilled water to obtain final concentrations that were 0, 0.1, 10, 25, and 100% of the original extract solution. Oat, rye, and tomato seeds along with bud-chipped cane eyes were germinated at 26°C on filter paper in Petri dishes moistened with 5 ml of the various concentrations. Percent germination was recorded after seven days. To determine activity on plant growth, eye pieces of LCP85-384 were germinated in tissue paper soaked with distilled water and then transplanted into 15 cm pots where they were maintained at field capacity using the various cane extracts for two months. The 100% extract significantly reduced the germination of oats, rye, and sugarcane by 31, 33, and 50%, respectively. During the first two weeks of the pot experiment, leaf development was also hindered by the extracts. After this two week duration, extracts did not significantly affect cane growth in terms of height, leaf development, fresh weight, or dry weight. This preliminary data suggests that sugarcane post-harvest residue has both autotoxic and allelopathic activity.