Laboratory of Basic Research in Horticulture, Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Warsaw Agricultural University, Nowoursynowska 159, 02–776 Warsaw, Poland.
Our aim was to study the effects of buckwheat allelochemicals on: (i) germination of 15 common weed species, mustard and wheat, (ii) early seedling growth of mustard and wheat, (iii) plant gas exchange of Arabidopsis thaliana L. and on (iv) growth of couch grass plants in field. The allelochemicals in aqueous extracts of buckwheat were inhibitory to acceptor plants, depending on the plant species and extract concentration. The application of chlorogenic acid and quercetin on A. thaliana plants delayed their growth and development, due to decreased in photosynthesis. Their higher concentrations and longer exposure also reduced the transpiration rate. The gas exchange was reduced, owing to increase in stomatal diffusive resistance. The buckwheat allelochemicals were very inhibitory to some weeds (Capsella bursa pastoris, Thlaspi arvense and couch grass) but not to the wheat crop. The co-cultivation of couch grass with buckwheat, drastically inhibited the growth, development and biomass accumulation and population of couch grass in field. Cultivation of buckwheat for phyto-sanitary purposes to reduce the couch grass may be beneficial to low chemical input and organic farming.
Agropyron repens, Arabidopsis thaliana, buckwheat, couch grass, Fagopyrum esculentum, gas exchange, germination, mustard, phytotoxicity, seedling vigour, wheat
