Strigol is a natural sesquiterpene and is a strong stimulant of germination, mainly of weed seeds from the genera Striga and Orobanche. Solutions with concentrations from 0.01; 0.1; 10 and 1000 mg/l of a new strigol analogue, synthesized from natural safrole (isolated from sassafraz oil) were applied to seeds of lettuce, Ipomoea grandifolia and Bidens pilosa. A stimulating effect in the germination of weed seeds was observed, whereas no effect on lettuce was observed. The results indicate that the new analogue presents potential application as a germination stimulant of weed seeds, which could be eliminated from the soil, before sowing vegetables such as lettuce.
Lactuca sativa L.; Ipomoea grandifolia; Bidens pilosa L.; germination stimulant; sassafraz oil
