[Correlation of Allelopathy of Rehmannia glutinosa Root Exudates and Their Phenolic Acids Contents]

To study the allelopathic potential of Rehmannia glutinosa root exudates in different growth stages and dynamic change of phenolic acids contents, in order to reveal the correlation between phenolic acids and allelbpathy effect of Rehmannia glutinosa.

Root exudates of Rehmannia glutinosa in different growth stages were obtained by a new instrument which was used to collect the root exudates of xerophytes. After that, bioassay was applied to estimate allelopathy effect of the root exudates. HPLC was used to determine the contents of five phenolic acids (coumaric acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid and ferulic acid) which were reported to relate to allelopathy effect. Correlation of bioassay data and HPLC data were also analyzed.

The germination rate of radish after soaking by root exudates of different growth stages of Rehmannia glutinosa was 97. 89%, 92. 38%, 89. 52%, 85. 71%, 85. 71%, 84. 76% and 83. 81%, respectively, which indicated a decline trend. And significant differences were shown from previous enlargement stage compared with the contrast. The bud length after soaking by root exudates was 5. 68, 5. 76, 5. 91, 5. 65, 5. 41, 5. 28 and 5. 11 cm, separately, which increased slightly before decreasing gradually. Previous enlargement stage was also the initial period when significant differences were shown. Five phenolic acids were detected in root exudates by HPLC, while the change of their contents and the allelopathy effect of root exudates did not perform a similar trend. Correlation analysis indicated the five phenolic acids did not have significant relevance (r = - 0. 666 - 0. 590) with germination rate and bud length of radish except the negative correlation (r = -0. 833, P <0. 05) of syringic acid and bud length.

Significant allelopathy effect of Rehmannia glutinosa is performed from previous enlargement stage and enhanced with its growth. Syringic acid is a probable dominant allelochemical of Rehmannia glutinosa.