GERMINATION INHIBITION BY 5,7-DIHYDROXYCHROMONE, A FLAVANOID DECOMPOSITION PRODUCT

5,7-Dihydroxychromone 1 isolated from seeds of Polygonum lapathifolium L. inhibits the germination of velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic) seeds. Effective molar concentrations ranged from 1 mM to 6 mM. Flavanoids reported or suspected to cause inhibition were not active at concentrations above 10 mM. Compound 1 is a flavanoid moiety and can be formed during catabolic degradation, but its role in the allelopathic activity attributed to flavanoids remains to be determined. © 1991 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.