Lipid Composition and Antibacterial Activity of Root Exudates
Secreted by Wheat Seedlings

A. I. Bozhkov*, N. G. Menzyanova*, and V. P. Leontovich**

* Biological Scientific Institute, Khar’kov State University, pl. Svobody 4, Khar’kov, 310077 Ukraine

** Khar’kov Agricultural University, p/o “Kommunist” 1, Khar’kov, 312131 Ukraine

Received July, 4 1995

Abstract—Some physico-chemical properties of aqueous solutions of root exudates, their lipid composition,
and antibacterial activity were studied in 1–5-day old seedlings of Triticum aestivum L. Optical density and
redox potential of root exudates decreased as roots grew whereas hydrogen ion activity increased during the
initial four days of root growth. Root exudates differed from the roots themselves by lacking triacylglycerides,
cholesterol, and phosphatidic acid. Both root exudates and roots contained free fatty acids, cholesterol esters,
phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidyl inositol, and cardiolipin. The total lipids iso-
lated from the root exudates displayed considerable antibacterial activity in vitro.

Key words: Triticum aestivum - allelopathy - lipids - root exudates

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