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Evaluation of Allelopathic Effects of Fenugreek Extract on Germination and Growth of Some Crop and Weed Species

¹Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Department of Agronomy, Iran
²Gorgan University, Faculty of Soil Science, Soil Science, Iran

Abstract

Allelopathy refers to the beneficial or harmful effects of one plant on another plant, both crop and weed species, by the release of chemicals from plant parts by leaching, root exudation, volatilisation, residue decomposition and other processes in both natural and agricultural systems. Allelochemical concentrations in the producer plant may also vary over time and is produced in the plant tissue. In order to study the effect of different organ extracts of fenugreek (Trigonella gracum (on germination of some crops and weeds, an experiment was conducted in completely randomised design with 3 replications in Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. Factors included 4 species soybean (Glysine max), sesame (Sesamus indicum) , pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus) and velvetleaf (Abotilon teophrasti) and the extract of different fenugreek organs (leaf, stem, seed, pod and total organs( in 4 levels (check, 4, 8, 32 and 64 g powder/1000 ml distilled water). Results indicated that plants had different reaction to concentrations of different organ extracts. Fenugreek extract not only reduced seedling growth of different species, but also inhibited seed germination. Nagative and significant correlation was observed between germination percent and different concentrations of organs and minimum of regression slope was obtained in stem extract. Root and shoot length had negative and significant correlation with extract concentrations, in total species, except of soybean. In general, velvetleaf had the most sensivity for fenugreek allelochemical. Alternatively, application of allelopathic compounds before, along with, or after synthetic herbicides could increase the overall effect of both materials, thereby reducing application rates of synthetic herbicides.

Keywords: Allelopathy, Fenugreek (Trigonella gracum (,Soybean (Glysin max), germination, Pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus), Sesame (Sesamus indicum) , Velvetleaf (Abotilon teophrasti)

Contact Address: Golsoomeh Azizi, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Department of Agronomy, Azadi Square, Mashhad, Iran, e-mail: el_azizi407yahoo.com