Root parasitic weeds, Striga spp. and Orobanche spp. are among the most destructive agricultural weeds and an effective control strategy is desired. We have focused on a germination process of the parasites to find novel metabolic targets for selective control. Here we report that nojirimycin bisulfite (NJ), a glycosidase inhibitor, selectively inhibited the germination of the parasites and interfered with the sugar metabolism. We identified that a trisaccharide, planteose (a-d-galactopyranosyl-(1?6)-�-d-fructofuranosyl-(2?1)-a-d-glucopyranoside) immediately decreased and fructose and glucose increased during germination in Orobanche minor. In NJ-treated O. minor seeds, consumption of planteose was similar to that in the germinating seeds, while a level of sucrose, an intermediate of planteose metabolism, significantly increased and fructose and glucose levels decreased. A significant recovery of the germination rate was observed when glucose and NJ were simultaneously applied to the seeds. The planteose metabolic pathway could be a new target for selective control of the parasites.

Study on the effect of nojirimycin on sugar metabolism in germinating seeds for selective control of root parasitic weeds

248th National Meeting (2014)

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