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Title: INHIBITION OF WEED AND VEGETABLE SEED GERMINATION BY ALLELOPATHY

Author
item Webber Iii, Charles
item Russo, Vincent
item MYERS, D.L. - OKLA. EAST CENTRAL UNIV.

Submitted to: Kenaf Association International Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/10/2000
Publication Date: 6/1/2000
Citation: WEBBER III, C.L., RUSSO, V.M., MYERS, D. INHIBITION OF WEED AND VEGETABLE SEED GERMINATION BY ALLELOPATHY. KENAF ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS. 2000. P. 35.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Naturally occurring plant chemicals may provide a safe and economic means of inhibiting weed seeds in the production of vegetable crops. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) plant material on the germination of weed and vegetable seeds. Four concentrations (0, 16.7, 33.3 and 66.7 g/l) of kenaf leaf, bark, and core extracts were applied to the germination medium of redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.), green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) seeds. The treated seeds were placed in an non-illuminated incubator at 27C. Germination was recorded after 7 days in the incubator. Kenaf leaf extracts decreased germination of redroot pigweed, tomato, cucumber, and Italian ryegrass. Core extracts reduced green bean germination by 7.0% compared to bark and leaf extracts. Increasing extract concentrations decreased germination of redroot pigweed by 39.5%, tomato by 34.4%, and cucumber by 12.6%. Green bean germination was unaffected by extract concentration. Although the allelopathic activity varied according to the extract's source (leaf, bark, and core) and extract concentration, all the seeds evaluated, except for green beans, had the greatest decrease in germination due to the leaf extracts. The isolation of the leaves as the primary location of allelopathic activity in kenaf plants, the leaf extracts allelopathic activity on redroot pigweed seeds, and the large leaf production potential of kenaf may provide a means of incorporating allelopathic activity into a integrated weed control system for horticultural crops.