Allelopathy and genotoxic potential of Casearia sylvestris Sw. extracts

The visible effects of allelopathy includes inhibitory effects on germination and growth of plants. However, how allelopathy acts on cellular and molecular level is still not well understood. In this study, the relation of genotoxicity and allelopathy was studied. The leaf extracts of Casearia sylvestris were tested for interference on germination, root elongation, cell cycle and genotoxicity potential. The Germination Test was done on seeds of soybean, lettuce and broccoli, Root growth and Allium anaphase-telophase chromosome aberration assay were done on Allium cepa. Leaf extracts were very phytotoxic, inhibited the normal germination of all test species and elongation of Allium cepa roots in a dose-response manner. Genotoxic effect was also dependent, suggesting that genotoxicity could be primary event of allelopathy and that Allium anaphase-telophase chromosome aberration assay provide a good system to study this interaction.