Title : Allelopathic effect of aqueous leaves extract of umbrella tree (Terminalia Mantaly) on the germination and early seedling growth of senna weed (Senna Occidentalis)
Abstract:
This study sought to investigate the allelopathic effect of aqueous leaves extracts of Terminalia mantaly on the germination and early seedling growth of Senna weeds. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design in the laboratory using three treatments that include various concentrations of aqueous leaves extracts of A. indica and a control treatments (distilled water). The aqueous leaves extracts of Terminalia mantaly was prepared and applied in petri dishes. The results of the experiment showed that the aqueous leaves extract of A. indica plant had a significant effect on the germination and early seedling growth of senna weeds. The highest inhibition rate was observed with the 100% concentration. treatment followed by that of the 75%, 50%and 25% aqueous leaves extract of A. indica Furthermore, the results showed that the aqueous leaves extracts of both plants have an inhibitory effect on the roots and shoots lengths of the Senna weeds plants, result also shows some phytochemicals such as alkaloids, flavonoids, anthraqunones and cardiac glycoside were detected. The findings of this study showed that the aqueous leaves extracts of Terminalia mantaly has s significant allelopathic effect on the germination and early seedling growth of Senna weeds as it inhibited the germination of the weed by 82.7%. the radicle and plumule lengths of the weed plant were significantly reduced p<0.05. Therefore, it can be concluded that the allelopathic effect of the aqueous leaves extracts of this plants could be exploited in agriculture.
Keywords: Allelopathy, Allelochemicals, Terminalia mantaly, Senna weed, Germination