Effects of microbial utilization of phenolic acids and their phenolic acid breakdown products on allelopathic interactions

Journal Article · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1998 · Journal of Chemical Ecology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022394203540· OSTI ID:638297

Blum, U ^[1]

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1. North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC (United States). Dept. of Botany

Reversible sorption of phenolic acids by soils may provide some protection to phenolic acids from microbial degradation. In the absence of microbes, reversible sorption 35 days after addition of 0.5--3 {micro}mol/g of ferulic acid or p-coumaric acid was 8--14% in Cecil A{sub p} horizon and 31--38% in Cecil B{sub t} horizon soil materials. The reversibly sorbed/solution ratios (r/s) for ferulic acid or p-coumaric acid ranged from 0.12 to 0.25 in A{sub p} and 0.65 to 0.85 in B{sub t} horizon soil materials. When microbes were introduced, the r/s ratio for both the A{sub p} and B{sub t} horizon soil materials increased over time up to 5 and 2, respectively, thereby indicating a more rapid utilization of solution phenolic acids over reversibly sorbed phenolic acids. The increase in r/s ratio and the overall microbial utilization of ferulic acid and/or p-coumaric acid were much more rapid in A{sub p} than in B{sub t} horizon soil materials. Reversible sorption, however, provided protection of phenolic acids from microbial utilization for only very short periods of time. Differential soil fixation, microbial production of benzoic acids (e.g., vanillic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid) from cinnamic acids (e.g., ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid, respectively), and the subsequent differential utilization of cinnamic and benzoic acids by soil microbes indicated that these processes can substantially influence the magnitude and duration of the phytotoxicity of individual phenolic acids.

• OSTI ID: 638297
• Journal Information: Journal of Chemical Ecology, Journal Name: Journal of Chemical Ecology Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 24; ISSN JCECD8; ISSN 0098-0331
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BIODEGRADATION
MICROORGANISMS
PHENOLS
REMEDIAL ACTION
SOILS