@article{GIROTTO_FRANCO_NUNEZ_OLIVEIRA_SCHEFFER de SOUZA_FACHIN-ESPINAR_FERREIRA_2021, title={Phytotoxicity and allelopathic potential of extracts from rhizomes and leaves of Arundo donax, an invasive grass in neotropical savannas}, volume={49}, url={https://www.notulaebotanicae.ro/index.php/nbha/article/view/12440}, DOI={10.15835/nbha49312440}, abstractNote={<p>The perennial rhizomatous grass <em>Arundo donax </em>L<em>. </em>(Poaceae), the giant reed, is an exotic invasive species in several countries of Europe that is rapidly spreading in the savannas of Central Brazil, locally known as Cerrado. Allelopathy could facilitate the successful invasion of this species by hampering or suppressing the regeneration of the native vegetation. However, information on the phytotoxicity of <em>A. donax</em> extracts is limited.  We investigated the allelopathic potential of <em>A. donax</em> leaf and rhizome extracts, screened them for phytochemicals by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and nuclear magnetic resonance (<sup>1</sup>H-NMR), and tested the extracts for antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity, and cytotoxicity against <em>Artemia salina</em>. Aqueous and methanolic extracts were initially tested in germination and seedling growth bioassays using <em>Lactuca sativa</em> L. (Asteraceae). The aqueous extracts were then tested on five Cerrado tree species and on <em>Megathyrsus</em> <em>maximus</em>, an invasive, alien grass in the Cerrado. Extracts negatively affected germination and seedling growth of the target species. Leaf extracts were more inhibitory. Extracts did not show antioxidant and cytotoxic activity and had very low antimicrobial activity. Flavonoids, and other phenolics were detected mostly in leaves. Terpenes, which were also present in the leaves, were the main secondary metabolites in rhizomes. Alkaloids were detected by TLC in leaf methanolic extracts. However, <sup>1</sup>H-NMR revealed the presence of indole alkaloids in methanolic extracts from rhizomes and leaves. We confirmed the allelopathic potential of this species and caution against weed control methods relying on cutting the plant back to soil level for favouring release of allelochemicals.</p>}, number={3}, journal={Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca}, author={GIROTTO, Lucas and FRANCO, Augusto C. and NUNEZ, Cecilia V. and OLIVEIRA, Sarah C.C. and SCHEFFER de SOUZA, Maria C. and FACHIN-ESPINAR, Maria T. and FERREIRA, Cristiane S.}, year={2021}, month={Sep.}, pages={12440} }