Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026
Soybean Hairy Root Transformation for the Analysis of Gene Function
Published on: May 5, 2023
Soyasapogenol B and trans-22-dehydrocam- pesterol from common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) root exudates stimulate
Antonio Evidente1, Alessio Cimmino, Mónica Fernández-Aparicio
1Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, della Pianta, dell'Ambiente e delle Produzioni Animali, Università di Napoli Federico II, Portici, Italy. evidente@unina.it
Background:
Orobanche and Phelipanche species (the broomrapes) are root parasitic plants, some of which represent serious weed problems causing severe yield losses on important crops. Control strategies have largely focused on agronomic practices, resistant crop varieties and herbicides, albeit with marginal success. An alternative control method is the induction of suicidal seed germination with natural substances isolated from root exudates of host and non-host plants.
Results:
Soyasapogenol B [olean-12-ene-3,22,24-triol(3β,4β,22β)] and trans-22-dehydrocampesterol [(ergosta-5,22-dien-3-ol, (3β,22E,24S)] were isolated from Vicia sativa root exudates. They were identified by comparing their spectroscopic and optical properties with those reported in the literature. Soyasapogenol B was very specific, stimulating the germination of O. minor seeds only, whereas trans-22-dehydrocampesterol stimulated P. aegyptiaca, O. crenata, O. foetida and O. minor.
Conclusion:
Soyasapogenol B and trans-22-deydrocampesterol were isolated for the first time from Vicia sativa root exudates, and their biological activity as stimulants of Orobanche or Phelipanche sp. seed germination was reported.
