• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.268-275
• /
• 2006

ALA (5-aminolevulinic acid) has been proposed as a tetrapyrrole-dependent photodynamic herbicide by the action of the protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase (Protox IX). A study was conducted to determine photodynamic herbicidal effect of ALA on seedling growth of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli Beauv. var. oryzicola Ohwi) under dry and wet conditions. ALA effect on early plant growth of rice and barnyardgrass was greatly concentration dependant, suggesting that it promotes plant growth at very low concentration and inhibits at high concentration. No significant difference in herbicidal activity of biologically and synthetically produced ALAs on plant lengths of test plants was observed ALA exhibited significant photodynamic activity regardless of PSDIP and its duration. Significant shoot growth inhibition by ALA soaking treatment exhibited apparently, indicating that ALA absorbed through root system was translocated into shoot part of plants. ALA reduced plant heights of rice and barnyardgrass seedlings by 6% and 27%, respectively, showing more tolerant to ALA in rice under wet condition. Leaf thickness was reduced markedly by ALA with increasing of ALA concentration, due to mainly membrane destruction and severe loss of turgidity in mesophyll cells, although the epidermal was little affected. It was observed that photodynamic herbicidal activity of ALA applied by pre-and post-emergence application exhibited differently on plant species, and that the activity of ALA against susceptible plants was highly correlated with growing condition.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.38-45
• /
• 2007

Laboratory and greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the herbicidal effect of two types of ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), microbiologically-produced ALA (Bio-ALA) and synthetically produced ALA (Synthetic-ALA), on plant growth and chlorophyll content of Chinese cabbage. ALA effect on early plant growth was greatly concentration dependant, showing significant inhibition at higher concentrations. Both pre- and post-emergence application of ALA exhibited significant degree of photodynamic phytotoxicity. Older plants with many leaves were more tolerant to ALA than younger plants, showing less injury. No significant difference in herbicidal activity of two types of ALA, Bio-ALA and Synthetic-ALA, on plant height and chlorophyll content of Chinese cabbage was observed. However, residual biological activity and physico-chemical properties of Synthetic-ALA were more stable than those of Bio-ALA. Our results suggest that ALA had herbicidal potential with both pre- and post-emergence application, and that the chemical may be a valuable mean of eco-friendly weed control based on natural microbial substance.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.356-361
• /
• 2006

The present study was conducted to determine plant growth and physiological responses of corn, barnyardgrass, and soybean to ALA (5-aminolevulinic acid). ALA effect on early seedling growth of test plants was greatly concentration dependant, suggesting that it inhibits at higher concentrations. No significant difference in herbicidal activity of two types of ALA on plant height and weight of test plants was observed. Barnyardgrass was the most sensitive to ALA and followed by corn and soybean, indicating that both crop plants were less affected by ALA concentration as well as different growth stages than barnyardgrass. Greatly reduced chlorophyll contents from leaves of three plant species were observed with increasing of ALA concentration. Compared with untreated controls, higher amounts of three tetrapyrroles were detected from three crop plants, indicating more accumulation in ALA-treated plants. The differential selectivity among plant species would be explained with the differences in tetrapyrrole accumulating capabilities, the susceptibility of various greening groups of plant species to the accumulation of various tetrapyrroles, and their metabolism in various plant tissues. The results indicate that negative biological potential of ALA exhibited differently on plant species, and that the photodynamic herbicidal activity against susceptible plants highly correlated with the extent of tetrapyrrole accumulation by the species.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.48 no.1
• /
• pp.50-55
• /
• 2003

Herbicidal activity of $\delta$-aminolevulinic acid(ALA), an intermediate for the biosynthesis of tetrapyrroles such as chlorophyll, heme, bacteriochlorophyll, and vitamin $\textrm{B}_{12}$ analogues, was examined to determine the variation in phytotoxic potential against different plant species as affected by different application methods. Seed-soaking treatment, ALA at low concentrations did not affect shoot and root lengths of test plants while at highest concentration reduced them by 20 to 30%. Alfalfa showed the most tolerant response to ALA in both pre- and post-emergence application, and followed by rice. When applied with pre-emergence, cotyledons of Chinese cabbage were severely bleached with 0.5 mM of ALA at 24 hrs after application, and root growth of rice, barnyard grass, and alfalfa was significantly inhibited with increasing of concentration. With post-emergence application, ALA at 2 to 4 mM reduced shoot and root growths of Chinese cabbage and barnyard grass completely. Herbicidal effects of ALA were more enhanced in the treatment combined with 2,2-dipyridyl sthan single application in barnyard grass and Chinese cabbage. The results suggest that alfalfa was the most tolerant to ALA among the tested plants, and that post-emergence application of ALA exhibited greatest photodynamic activity against tested plants.