ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Plant Sci.
Sec. Functional Plant Ecology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1659978
Allelopathic effects of Aizoon canariense leaf leachates on growth, biochemistry, and oxidative stress responses in selected crop species
Provisionally accepted
- Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
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Allelopathy offers a promising ecological approach to sustainable weed and crop management, yet the allelopathic potential of many underutilized wild species remains unexplored. Aizoon canariense, a xerophytic plant native to arid regions, may produce bioactive compounds capable of influencing the growth and physiology of neighboring crops. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition and allelopathic effects of A. canariense aqueous leaf leachates (LL) on four major crops—wheat (Triticum aestivum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), rapeseed (Brassica napus), and mung bean (Vigna radiata). The chemical constituents of A. canariense leaves were identified using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Four crops were treated with 10% and 15% LL, and various morphological (shoot/root length, biomass), physiological (chlorophyll, carotenoids), and biochemical parameters (total phenols, flavonoids, DPPH activity, SOD, CAT, H₂O₂, and MDA content) were evaluated. Correlation analysis was performed to assess relationships among stress responses and growth indicators. GC-MS analysis revealed 40 compounds, including sesquiterpenes, phytol, patchouli alcohol, and α-cadinol. LL treatments significantly reduced shoot and root growth, pigment content, and biomass in a dose-dependent manner, with rapeseed and mung bean showing the greatest sensitivity. Conversely, LL exposure elevated phenolic and flavonoid levels, antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD, CAT), and oxidative stress markers (H₂O₂ and MDA). Correlation analysis demonstrated strong negative relationships between growth traits and oxidative damage, and positive associations between phenolic accumulation and antioxidant responses. A. canariense leaf leachates exert significant allelopathic effects on crop plants by inducing oxidative stress and activating antioxidant defenses, suggesting the presence of potent phytotoxic compounds. These findings offer new insights into the ecological role of A. canariense and its potential application as a natural bioherbicide or rotation crop component in sustainable agriculture.
Keywords: Aizoon canariense, Allelopathy, leaf leachate, Oxidative Stress, Antioxidant Enzymes
Received: 04 Jul 2025; Accepted: 14 Aug 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Alghanem. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Suliman M. S. Alghanem, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
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