In North America, among the wildlife
species, deer, particularly white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus),
damage row crops such as soybean (Glycine max L.) and are a
perceived problem. Currently, the widely used technique to control deer from
crop browsing is establishment of fences and application of
repellents. In general, fencing is expensive, labor intensive, and most of the
time ineffective and effectiveness
of repellents depends on numerous factors, such as rainfall, which may dissolve
repellents thus requiring reapplication.
Sicklepod (Senna obtusifolia
L.) is among the ten most troublesome weeds in the southern US. Studies have shown
that sicklepod, Senna obtusifolia (L.), contains anthraquinone
derivatives, which in separate studies were shown to be toxic to cattle, rats,
rabbits, and horses, and repel herbivores primarily birds. However, information
of the deer-repelling property of anthraquinone in sicklepod is lacking.
In this study, the
authors aimed to explore the deer-repelling potential of sicklepod extracts and
characterize the deer-repelling compounds present in sicklepod plant parts. Field
tests conducted at the Captive Deer Facility at Mississippi State University (MSU)
confirmed the deer-repelling property of anthraquinone extracts from sicklepod.
Soybean plants applied with control treatment (water) were browsed by deer,
while plants applied with sicklepod anthraquinone extracts were avoided. Using
chromatography techniques, the authors found the levels of anthraquinone
derivatives (chrysophanol, emodin) in sicklepod plant parts in the order: root
> fruit > stem/leaf. Hydrolysis of water extracts of sicklepod seed
produced high emodin concentration, suggesting emodin glycoside as the main
form of anthraquinone glycoside in sicklepod seed.
In conclusion, deer-repelling
compounds can be extracted in its pure form from sicklepod and applied on
soybean to increase its repelling efficacy on deer, and at the same time
protect soybean yields. Also, the current work forms a basis to further apply
the sicklepod deer-repelling property (anthraquinone derivatives as effective
components) to protect soybean plants from injury and consequent yield
reduction arising from deer grazing.
Article by Ziming
Yue, et al, from Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, USA.
Full access: http://mrw.so/2oyF5R
Image by James Wilson, from Flickr-cc.
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