Search of autotoxic substances in some leaf vegetables

Abstract

The following autotoxic organic acids: lactic, benzoic, m-hydroxybenzoic, p-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic, adipic, and succinic in eight leaf vegetables, cultured hydroponically, were analyzed by GC-MS method. These substances that are adsorbed by activated charcoal are effective growth inhibits were bioassayed, using the seedlings of their origin as test materials. Strong inhibitors, such as adipic acid in parsley, lactic acid in celery, benzoic, p-hydroxybenzoic and succinic acid in mitsuba, vanillic acid in curly-leaf lettuce, succinic acid in edible burdock, benzoic, m-hydroxybenzoic and succinic acid in garland chrysanthemum, benzoic and p-hydroxybenzoic acid in pak-choi, benzoic, p-hydroxybenzoic and adipic acid in kale were found.