Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Early Access

The hysteranthous defence: How phenology and organ-specific chemistry shape the allelopathic potential of Colchicum autumnale L.

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.12592
Submitted
5 November 2025
Published
09-07-2026
Versions

Abstract

Some geophytes like Colchicum autumnale L. (meadow saffron) rely on strong defensive chemistry to secure ecological persistence in natural habitats, yet the distinction between their allelopathic potential and the phytotoxicity of their constituents has rarely been examined. This study evaluated the biological effects of aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts from distinct organs of C. autumnale across three phenophases on the germination and seedling development of two Ocimum basilicum L. (basil) cultivars (‘Italiano Classico’ and ‘Aromat de Buzău’). Basil seeds were exposed to varying dilutions of meadow saffron organ extracts and the effects were quantified through germination parameters. The results revealed solvent-dependent, organ-specific chemical plasticity in the secondary metabolites of C. autumnale. Hydroethanolic extracts from corms and flowers induced severe phytotoxicity, profoundly inhibiting the germination of basil seeds. In contrast, leaf and corm tunic extracts mitigated the chemical stress induced by the extraction solvent. This differential toxicity matches the hysteranthous phenology of the meadow saffron, proving that its most potent mitotic inhibitors are heavily localised in vulnerable reproductive and storage tissues. Aqueous extracts mainly inhibited seedling vigour, indicating that this species leachates or exudates might be capable of hindering the growth of competing species, but its true allelopathic potential may require tissue decomposition to exert significant suppression. Cultivar responses varied, with ‘Aromat de Buzău’ demonstrating higher germination and resilience than ‘Italiano Classico’. Ultimately, C. autumnale extracts may serve as biotechnological tools to support genotype selection and screening of early vigour traits under strictly controlled bioassay conditions.

References

  1. 1. Jung L, Winter S, Eckstein RL, Kriechbaum M, Karrer G, Welk E, et al. Colchicum autumnale L. Perspect Plant Ecol Evol Syst. 2011;13(3):227–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ppees.2011.04.001
  2. 2. Davoodi A, Azadbakht M, Hosseinimehr SJ, Emami S, Azadbakht M. Phytochemical profiles, physicochemical analysis and biological activity of three Colchicum species. Jundishapur J Nat Pharm Prod. 2021;16(2):e98868. https://doi.org/10.5812/jjnpp.98868
  3. 3. Dincheva I, Badjakov I, Georgiev V, Semerdjieva I, Vrancheva R, Ivanov I, Pavlov A. Comprehensive GC-MS characterization and histochemical assessment of various parts of three Colchicum species from Bulgarian flora. Plants. 2025;14:270. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14020270
  4. 4. Moroșan IC, Mihășan M, Zamfirache MM. An insight into the biochemical content of Colchicum autumnale L. throughout its ontogenetic cycle. Not Bot Horti Agrobo. 2025;53(3):14572. https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha53314572
  5. 5. Chomel M, Guittonny‐Larchevêque M, Fernandez C, Gallet C, DesRochers A, Paré D, et al. Plant secondary metabolites: a key driver of litter decomposition and soil nutrient cycling. J Ecol. 2016;104. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12644
  6. 6. Mallik A. Allelopathy in forested ecosystems. In: Zeng RS, Mallik AU, Luo SM, editors. Allelopathy in Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry. Springer; 2008. p. 363–86. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-77337-7_19
  7. 7. Paul P, Halder M, Jha S. Alkaloids derived from tyrosine: Penethylisoquinoline (autumnaline, colchicine). In: Ramawat KG, Merillon JM, Henry M, editors. Handbook of Natural Products-Phytochemistry, Botany, Metabolism. Springer Berlin Heidelberg; 2013. p. 461–78. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-22144-6_16
  8. 8. Duke S. Proving allelopathy in crop-weed interactions. Weed Sci. 2015;63(SP1):121–32. https://doi.org/10.1614/WS-D-13-00130.1
  9. 9. Regiosa MJ, Pedrol N, González L, editors. Allelopathy. Netherlands: Springer; 2006. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4280-9
  10. 10. Zhao J, Yang Z, Zou J, Li Q. Allelopathic effects of sesame extracts on seed germination of moso bamboo and identification of potential allelochemicals. Sci Rep. 2022;12:6661. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-10695-x
  11. 11. Zhang Z, Liu Y, Yuan L, Weber E, van Kleunen M. Effect of allelopathy on plant performance: a meta-analysis. Ecol Lett. 2021;24(2):348–62. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.13627
  12. 12. Cheng F, Cheng Z. Research progress on the use of plant allelopathy in agriculture and the physiological and ecological mechanisms of allelopathy. Front Plant Sci. 2015;6:1020. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2015.01020
  13. 13. Mihăilă D, Briciu AE, Graur A. Perception of the climate risk phenomena in Suceava municipality and surrounding areas. Present Environ Sustain Dev. 2022;16(1):5–22. https://doi.org/10.47743/pesd2022161015
  14. 14. Zippenfenig P. Open-Meteo Weather API . Open-Meteo; 2023.
  15. 15. Florea N, Munteanu I, editors. Sistemul Român de Taxonomie a Solurilor (SRTS-2012). Craiova: Editura Sitech; 2012.
  16. 16. Doniță N, Popescu A, Comănescu MP, Mihăilescu S, Biriș IA, editors. Habitatele din România. București: Editura Tehnică Silvică; 2005. p. 175–6.
  17. 17. Samuil C, Nazare AI, Sîrbu C, Grigoraş B, Vîntu V. The impact of fertilizer gradient on High Nature Value Mountain grassland. Plants. 2025;14(21):3397. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14213397
  18. 18. Miller AL. AOSA/SCST Tetrazolium testing handbook 2010 edition. Association of Official Seed Analysts, Tetrazolium Subcommittee & Society of Commercial Seed Technologists: AOSA & SCST; 2010. p. 8–18.
  19. 19. Pompelli MF, Jarma-Orozco A, Rodriguez-Páez LA. Imbibition and germination of seeds with economic and ecological interest: physical and biochemical factors involved. Sustainability. 2023;15(6):5394. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065394
  20. 20. Manzoor A, Ahmad T, Bashir MA, Hafiz IA, Silvestri C. Studies on colchicine induced chromosome doubling for enhancement of quality traits in ornamental plants. Plants. 2019;8(7):194. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants8070194
  21. 21. Omidbaigi R, Mirzaee M, Hassani M, Moghadam M. Induction and identification of polyploidy in basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) medicinal plant by colchicine treatment. Int J Plant Prod. 2010;4(2):87–98.
  22. 22. Bezini E, Abdelguerfi A, Nedjimi B, Touati M, Benziane A, Yabrir B. Effects of some heavy metals on seed germination of M. arbora. Agri Conspec Sci. 2019;84(4):357–64.
  23. 23. Islam AKM, Kato-Noguchi H. Phytotoxic activity of Ocimum tenuiflorum extracts on germination and seedling growth of different plant species. Sci World J. 2014;676242. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/676242
  24. 24. Guo J, Yuan Y, Dong Z. Characterization of fractional polysaccharides from Gleditsia sinensis and Gleditsia microphylla gums. Molecules. 2016;21(12):1745. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules21121745
  25. 25. Patra M, Salonen E, Terama E, Vattulainen I, Faller R, Lee BW, et al. Under the influence of alcohol: the effect of ethanol and methanol on lipid bilayers. Biophys J. 2006;90(4):1121–35. https://doi.org/10.1529/biophysj.105.062364
  26. 26. Krumsri R, Kato-Noguchi H, Poonpaiboonpipat T. Allelopathic effects of sugarcane leaves: optimal extraction solvent, partial separation of allelopathic active fractions and herbicidal activities. Plants. 2024;13:2085. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13152085
  27. 27. Weidenhamer J, Cipollini D, Morris K, Gurusinghe S, Weston L. Ecological realism and rigor in the study of plant-plant allelopathic interactions. Plant Soil. 2023;489:1–39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06022-6
  28. 28. Mangena P. Germination, morphological and physiological evaluation of seedlings pretreated with colchicine in soybean (Glycine max L). WJST. 2021;18(18):111–21. https://doi.org/10.48048/wjst.2021.9489
  29. 29. Zhuo L, Zhu F, Jin D, Wu Y, Wang S. Seed germination and seedling growth of Dendrocalumus brandisii in vitro and the inhibitory mechanism of colchicine. Front Plant Sci. 2021;12:784581. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.784581
  30. 30. Zeinullina A, Zargar M, Dyussibayeva E, Orazov A, Zhirnova I, Yessenbekova G, et al. Agro-morphological traits and molecular diversity of proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) affected by various colchicine treatments. Agronomy. 2023;13(12):2973. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13122973
  31. 31. Asander H. Influence of colchicine treatment on morphological, physiological and anatomical Cercis siliquastrum L. seedlings growth. J Plant Prod. 2019;10(8):721–30. https://doi.org/10.21608/jpp.2019.58165
  32. 32. Allafe M, Adam A. Influence of colchicine concentrations on wheat seeds germination and seedling quality. DASJ. 2022;14(1):66–72. https://doi.org/10.52951/dasj.22140108
  33. 33. Moroșan IC, Ivănescu LC, Olaru ȘM, Zamfirache MM. Biological effects induced by colchicine in Ocimum basilicum L. Ital Hortus. 2023;30:17–36. https://doi.org/10.26353/j.itahort/2023.1.1736
  34. 34. Arif Y, Sami F, Siddiqui H, Bajguz A, Hayat S. Salicylic acid in relation to other phytohormones in plant: A study towards physiology and signal transduction under challenging environment. Environ Exp Bot. 2020;175:104040. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2020.104040
  35. 35. Shah A, Smith D. Flavonoids in agriculture: Chemistry and roles in biotic and abiotic stress responses and microbial associations. Agronomy. 2020;10:1209. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10081209
  36. 36. Chenyin P, Yu W, Fenghou S, Yongbao S. Review of the current research progress of seed germination inhibitors. Horticulturae. 2023;9(4):462. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9040462
  37. 37. Šoln K, Klemenčič M, Koce J. Plant cell responses to allelopathy: from oxidative stress to programmed cell death. Protoplasma. 2022;259:1111–24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-021-01729-8
  38. 38. Moroșan IC, Ivănescu LC, Mihășan M, Olaru ȘM, Zamfirache MM. Biological effects of some Colchicum autumnale L. extracts on tissue development of two varieties of Ocimum basilicum L. Adv Hortic Sci. 2022;36(4):283–92. https://doi.org/10.36253/ahsc-12981
  39. 39. Choudhary C, Behera B, Raza MB, Mrunalini K, Bhoi TK, Lal MK, et al. Mechanisms of allelopathic interactions for sustainable weed management. Rhizosphere. 2023;25:100667. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rhisph.2023.100667
  40. 40. Bonanomi G, Sicurezza M, Caporaso S, Esposito A, Mazzoleni S. Phytotoxicity dynamics of decaying plant materials. New Phytol. 2005;169(3):571–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2005.01611.x
  41. 41. Singh B, Yun S, Gil Y, Park M. The role of colchicine in plant breeding. Int J Mol Sci. 2025;26:6743. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26146743
  42. 42. Bashir K, Todaka D, Sako K, Ueda M, Aziz F, Seki M. Chemical application improves stress resilience in plants. Plant Mol Biol. 2025;115:47. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11103-025-01566-w
  43. 43. Finkelstein Y, Aks SE, Hutson JR, Juurlink DN, Nguyen P, Dubnov-Raz G, et al. Colchicine poisoning: the dark side of an ancient drug. Clin Toxicol. 2010;48(5):407–14. https://doi.org/10.3109/15563650.2010.495348
  44. 44. Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market (EU) [Internet]. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. 2026. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32009R1107
  45. 45. Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, amending and repealing Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC and amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (Text with EEA relevance) [Internet]. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. 2026. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32008R1272
  46. 46. Sigma-Aldrich. Colchicine, secondary pharmaceutical standard [Internet]. Gillingham: Sigma. 2026. https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/RO/en/product/supelco/phl89610
  47. 47. Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety (EU) [Internet]. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. 2026. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32002R0178

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.