Difference in Allelopathic Potential as Influenced by Root Periderm Colour of Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas)

Abstract Laboratory bioassay and high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis were conducted to determine the allelopathic potentials of aqueous or methanol extracts from three different coloured sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas L. (Lam)] cultivars by plant part. The aqueous extracts applied on filter paper significantly inhibited root growth of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Aqueous leaf leachates at 40 g dry tissue l−1 (g l−1) from white sweet potato cultivar ‘Sinyulmi’ showed the highest inhibition against alfalfa, followed by yellow ‘Sinhwangmi’ and purple ‘Jami’. Alfalfa root growth was significantly inhibited by methanol extracts of the same plants as the concentration increased. Aqueous and methanol extracts from leaves showed the most inhibitory effect on alfalfa root growth followed by stems and roots. By means of HPLC analysis, leaf samples of sweet potato had the highest amount of phenolic compounds followed by stems and roots. Total content of these compounds was highest for leaf extracts (37.7 mg 100 g−1), detected in EtOAc fraction, especially trans‐cinnamic acid (20.9 mg 100 g−1). These results suggest that sweet potato plants are allelopathic and that their activities differ depending on plant part as well as root periderm colour.