Phytogrowth-Inhibitory Activity of Sulphur-Containing Compounds: I: Inhibitory Activities of Thiazolidine Derivatives on Plant Growth

Abstract

(R)-(—)-Thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (I, /-thioproline), (4R)-(—)-2-thioxo-4-thiazolidinecarboxylic acid (II), 2-thioxo-4-thiazoIidinone (III, rhodanine), 4-oxo-2-thioxothiazolidine-3-acetic acid (IV, rhodanine-3-acetic acid) and thiazolidine (V) showed rather strong inhibitory activity on four kinds of plants examined at the concentration of 3.0x10“4m. In particular, four compounds except for V strongly inhibited the growth of roots of all the plants examined at the concentration of 1.0x10-3m. Furthermore, three compounds except for I and V inhibited the germination of the seeds of some plants at the concentration of 1.0 x 10-3m. The amount of chlorophyll in the cotyledons of Brassica rapa L. treated with 1.0 x 10“3m of I—V was decreased compared to that of the control group. Of the five compounds, III strongly inhibited the chlorophyll biosynthesis of this plant even at the concentration of 3.0 x 10“ 4m. © 1992, The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan. All rights reserved.