1Institute of Soil and Water Conservation Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources Northwest Sci-Tech University of Agriculture and Forestry Yangling, 712100, China.
2Arid Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori 680–0001, Japan.
*Correspondence author: E-Mail: yongqingma@nwsuaf.edu.cn
The fresh plant and powder of Houttuynia cordata stimulated the germination of Striga hermonthica. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) of H. cordata extract revealed two zones of activity with maximum germination of 57 and 27%, respectively for Rf values of 0.4 and 0.53. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed two active zones 1 and 2, with fractions having retention times (tR) of 35 and 37 min. The maximum germination in these zones was 53 and 75%, respectively. The soil growing H. cordata for two years stimulated the seed germination of S. hermonthica. This study indicated that H. cordata root exudates contains germination stimulant of S. hermonthica.
Germination, Houttuynia cordata, induction, isolation, Striga hermonthica
