Evaluation of allelopathic activity of three mango (Mangifera indica) cultivars.
Khan M. S. I., Islam A. K. M. M., Kato-Noguchi H.
Author Affiliation: Department of Applied Biological Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, 2393, Ikenobe, Miki, Kagawa 761-0795, Japan.
Asian Journal of Plant Sciences 12 : 252-261
Abstract : The present study was undertaken to investigate the allelopathic potential of three mango (Mangifera indica) cultivars: Khirshapat, Himsagor and Sinduri. The aqueous methanol extracts of leaves at four different concentrations were examined against germination and seedling growth of cress (Lepidum sativum), lettuce (Lactuca sativa), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), Italian rye grass (Lolium multiflorum), barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli) and timothy (Phleum pratense). The germination and seedling growth of all test plant species were inhibited significantly by selected mango leaf extracts at concentrations greater than 0.01 g dry weight (DW) equivalent extract mL-1. The inhibitory activities of the extracts were proportional to the extract concentrations. At 0.1 g DW equivalent extract mL-1, a significant delay or complete inhibition of germination were observed on all test plant species except for Sinduri extracts on barnyard grass. Alternatively, all extracts showed more than 70% hypocotyl/coleoptile and root growth inhibition of all test plant species except barnyard grass at the same concentration. The concentration required for 50% growth inhibition (I50) on the hypocotyls/coleoptiles and roots of the test plants ranged from 0.003-0.103 g DW equivalent extract mL-1. These results suggest that all three mango cultivars have allelopathic properties and thus allelopathic substances. As no prominent differences in the inhibitory activity were found among the three mango cultivars, all of them might be useful candidates for isolation and identification of allelopathic substances which may lead the basis for new natural herbicides development.