Allelopathic influence of Phytolacca dioica L. germination and early growth of Lycopersicum esculentum and Bidens pilosa

• Main Authors: Junior Borella, Lindamir Hernandez Pastorini
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina 2009-09-01
• Series: Biotemas
• Subjects: allelopathy; early growth; germination; Phytolacca dioica
• Online Access: http://www.biotemas.ufsc.br/volumes/pdf/volume223/67a75.pdf

Allelopathy refers to the ability that a plant has to interfere in the metabolism of another by means of chemical compounds released into the environment. The objective of this study was to determine the allelopathic effect of aqueous extracts of leaves of Phytolacca dioica L. on the germination and early growth of tomato plants and Bidens pilosa. Extracts were prepared at concentrations of 1%, 2%, 4% and 8%. We measured the pH and osmotic potential of the extracts and carried out a phytochemical analysis of the leaves. In our experiments we used four replicates of 25 seeds distributed in Petri dishes with two sheets of germitest paper dampened with 5mL extract. We evaluated the percentage of germination (PG), speed of germination (VG), speed of germination index (IVG), and length (root and shoot) and mass (fresh and dry) of seedlings of tomato and Bidens pilosa. The pH and osmotic potential were found to be within acceptable standards and the phytochemical analysis of the leaves showed the presence of flavonoids. PG, VG and IVG were affected in more concentrated treatments (4 and 8%), and the length and mass of seedlings of tomato and Bidens pilosa were affected in all treatments. Treatments at an 8% concentration completely inhibited the germination process of the plants.