Campus Units
Entomology
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
2002
Journal or Book Title
BMC Ecology
Volume
2
First Page
1
Last Page
6
DOI
10.1186/1472-6785-2-1
Abstract
There is an urgent need to explore and utilize naturally occurring products for combating harmful agricultural and public health pests. Secondary metabolites in the leaves of the Tree of Heaven,Ailanthus altissima L. have been reported to be herbicidal and insecticidal. The mode of action, however, of the active compounds in A. altissima are not understood. In this paper, we report the chemical characteristics of the herbicidal and insecticidal components in this tree, and will discuss the effect of light on the bioactivity of the active components. Extracts from the fresh leaves of A. altissima showed a strong plant germination/growth inhibitory effect in laboratory bioassays against alfalfa (Medicago sativa). The effect was dose-dependent. The growth inhibitory components were in the methylene chloride soluble fraction of the extract. The effect was greater in the light than in the dark. Other fractions had plant growth enhancing effect at lower concentrations. The extract was slightly insecticidal against yellow fever mosquito larvae (Aedes aegypti). The extract or its semi-purified fractions of A. altissima were strong plant growth inhibitors, therefore good candidates as potential environmentally safe and effective agricultural pest management agents. The finding that light affects the activity will be useful in the application of such natural products.
Rights
Works produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrighted within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted.
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Tsao, Rong; Romanchuk, Frieda E.; Peterson, Chris J.; and Coats, Joel R., "Plant Growth Regulatory Effect and Insecticidal Activity of the Extracts of the Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima L.)" (2002). Entomology Publications. 331.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ent_pubs/331
Comments
This article is from BMC Ecology 2 (2002): 1, doi:10.1186/1472-6785-2-1.