AN AUTOMATED-SYSTEM FOR LARGE-SCALE RECOVERY OF GERMINATION STIMULANTS AND OTHER ROOT EXUDATES

A large-scale continuous system for recovery of root exudates from millet and cowpea was developed and tested extensively. Large quantities of germination stimulants were exuded into the medium flowing through the plant trays, which could be demonstrated by germination of seeds of three species of angiospermous parasitic plants, Alectra vogelii, Striga gesneriodes, and witchweed. Recovery of root exudates was affected by adsorption on the macroreticular polymer resin XAD-4 followed by desorption with methanol. Furthermore, indications were found that germination inhibitors are released into the medium. Subsequent testing confirmed the quantitative release of the germination stimulants as well as a large number of other compounds.