Herbicidal Activity and Metabolic Profiling of Piper tuberculatum Jacq. Leachates

Understanding how allelochemicals with herbicidal activity are released in plant interactions is key to developing sustainable weed control strategies. This study aimed to investigate the herbicidal activity and metabolic profile of Piper tuberculatum Jacq. leachates. In vitro bioassays were performed with P. tuberculatum leaf leachates to evaluate their effects on the germination and early growth of Bidens bipinnata L. and Digitaria insularis (L.) Fedde. (DIGIN.). The leachate extracts were subsequently characterized via liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry–based metabolomics and molecular networking. The results showed that weed germination and seedling development were significantly affected by the P. tuberculatum leachates. Metabolomic analysis revealed that allelochemicals belonging to the classes of alkaloids, fatty acids, phenolic compounds, steroids, and terpenoids are potentially involved in herbicidal activity. These findings suggest that P. tuberculatum could be explored as a natural alternative for sustainable weed management, potentially reducing the dependence on synthetic herbicides.