Allelopathic interactions of tree spp. with mustard crop.
Abdulla M. K., Sudhir Kumar, Hashim Ali, Aditi Sindhu, Gunjan Sindhu
Author Affiliation: Department of Botany, Kisan Post Graduate College, Simbhaoli, Ghaziabad - 245 207, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Allelopathy Journal 16 : 335-340
Abstract : A laboratory bioassay was conducted to evaluate the effects of fresh leaf and bark leachates of five trees, viz., mango, China berry, Albizia, while mulberry and teak, on seed germination and seedling growth of Indian mustard. The bioassay study consisted of three treatment categories: (i) five tree species; (ii) two types of leachates (leaf and bark leachate); and (iii) four leachate concentrations (0, 5, 10 and 15%). Results showed that the bark leachates of mulberry, China berry and Albizia sp. significantly simulated the germination of mustard, whereas their leaf leachate inhibited the germination. Bark leachates of all tree species except mango stimulated the seedling growth of mustard over control. The bark leachates of teak inhibited the seed germination. The inhibitory effect of bark and leaf leachates was pronounced at higher concentration.