Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, P.O. BOX: 9177948978-1163, Mashhad, Iran.
*Correspondence author: E-mail: astaraei@ferdowsi.um.ac.ir
1Instituto de Estudios Vegetales, Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. España 2903, CP 4000, Tucuman, Argentina.
In laboratory and pot assays, the allelopathic effects of almond plant parts were evaluated on the seed germination and seedling growth of cress and fenugreek. Effects of aqueous extracts of leaf, bark and mixture of leaf + bark were studied on seed germination and seedling growth of cress and fenugreek in Petri dish bioassays, at 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0% (v/v) concentrations. In pot experiments, seeds of test species were sown in soil mixed with leaf or bark residues at 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0% (w/w). Almond extracts inhibited the seed germination of both test species. Leaf and bark extracts were most inhibitory to fenugreek root elongation, while, 2% leaf and bark extracts completely inhibited the root elongation of cress. Almond residues were more harmful to fenugreek germination than to cress. Bark residues reduced the seed germination of both species more than leaf residues. However, the leaf residues stimulated the growth of cress plants. Our results suggested that soil biotic and/or abiotic factors regulated the biological activity of almond plant parts residues. Nevetheless, further studies are needed to elucidate the allelochemicals involved.
Allelochemical release, aqueous extracts, bioassay, Lepidium sativum, Prunus dulcis, Trigonella foenum
