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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Houma, Louisiana » Sugarcane Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #313638
Title: Impact of kenaf extracts on germination of green bean, tomato, cucumber, and Italian ryegrass

Author
item Webber Iii, Charles
item White, Paul
item MYERS, DWIGHT - East Central University
item TAYLOR, MERRITT - Oklahoma State University
item SHREFLER, JAMES - Oklahoma State University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/30/2015
Publication Date: 10/1/2015
Citation: Webber III, C.L., White Jr, P.M., Myers, D.L., Taylor, M.J., Shrefler, J.W. 2015. Impact of kenaf extracts on germination of green bean, tomato, cucumber, and Italian ryegrass [abstract]. Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists Annual Meeting, January 30 - February 4, 2015, Atlanta, Georgia. S53-54.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The chemical interaction between plants, referred to as allelopathy, may result in the inhibition of plant growth and development. The objective of this research was to determine the impact of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) plant extracts on the seed germination of five plant species. 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 (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) seeds. The treated seeds were placed in a non-illuminated incubator at 27oC. Germination was recorded after 7 days in the incubator. Seed germination decreased with increasing extract concentration for all the plant species tested, except for green bean. Tomato, cucumber, Italian ryegrass, and redroot pigweed followed similar trends in their responses to the extract source (kenaf bark, core, and leaves) and the impact of extract concentration. The research demonstrated an allelopathic response to kenaf leaf extracts resulting in reduced seed germination for tomato, cucumber, Italian ryegrass and redroot pigweed. Sensitivity to the allelopathic impact of the kenaf leaf extracts from highest to lowest was Italian ryegrass > tomato > redroot pigweed > cucumber > green bean, with reductions in percentage germination of 79% (Italian ryegrass), 78% (tomato), 53% (redroot pigweed), 40% (cucumber), and 0% (green bean). Future research should focus on assessing the impact of kenaf extracts on post-germination growth, and isolating the active allelopathic ingredients in the kenaf leaf extracts. The resulting information could be used to pursue cultural practices that utilize these natural allelopathic materials to benefit crop production and limit weed competition.