Evaluation of phytotoxic potential of organic extracts of the invasive fern frond Pteridium arachnoideum (Kaulf.) Maxon

Abstract

The term allelopathy refers to the beneficial and adverse biochemical interactions between different species of plants, including microorganisms. There is a huge variety of compounds with this type of activity, and environmental conditions (such as rainfall seasonality) can modify the production thereof. Such allelopathic substances are considered as a resource for the production of natural herbicides or stimulants for the growth of some plants, because of the diversity of action of these compounds. The fern Pteridium arachoideum (Kaulf.) Maxon occurs as invasive in areas of Cerrado. Previous studies by our research group showed that aqueous extracts of fronds of this species have phytotoxicity. This project aims to analyze which organic extracts (hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol) has greater phytotoxicity from fronds of P. arachnoideum collected in both dry and wet season, on the germination and early development of Cucumis sativus L. (cucumber). Phytochemical analysis will be performed to define the major chemical classes of secondary metabolites produced by this species at both stations mentioned.