Allelopathic potential of South American Bothriochloa species (Poaceae: Andropogoneae)

LIDIA R. SCRIVANTI; ANA ANTON; JULIO A. ZYGADLO

ALLELOPATHY JOURNAL

ALLELOPATHY JOURNAL

Lugar: Rohtak; Año: 2011 vol. 28 p. 189 - 200

0971-4693

Bothriochloa Kuntze (Poaceae: Andropogoneae) congregates perennial grasses growing in tropical and subtropical region both of Old and New World. The inhibitory effects of Bothriochloa species from South America were examined using aqueous extracts from different plant parts indicated that extracts inhibited the seed germination and root and shoot growth of test species used in laboratory bioassays. The seed germination, root and shoot elongation percentages were measured on four plant tested: lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and maize (Zea mays L.), the common allelopathy bioassay systems, wintergreen paspalum (Paspalum guenoarum Arechav.) and lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees) native species. Aqueous extracts were generally more inhibitory on elongation of shoot and root than on seed germination. Significant inhibition of shoot length at almost all concentrations was more sensitive indicator of phytotoxic activity. The toxicity enhanced with increasing of the aqueous concentration extract. These extracts may contain allelochemicals which could interfere with seed germination and seedling growth of plants. Consequently, the study of these chemical interactions might be a useful approach for the development of new classes of environmentally safe herbicides.