State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China.
*Correspondence author: E-mail: lsspsl@mail.sysu.edu.cn
1Shandong Institute of Light Industry, Jinan 250353, China.
We studied the allelopathic effects of aqueous extracts of leaf and reproductive organs (flower and fruit) of L. camara on seed germination, seedling growth and dry matter production of radish and lettuce. The reproductive organs of L. camara were found allelopathic and the effects were concentration-dependent. GC-MS analysis showed that the reproductive and vegetative organs have similar volatile compounds but their contents were different. Fruit extracts were most stimulatory, while flower and leaf extracts had similar stimulatory/inhibitory effects. Thus the allelopathic effects of L. camara reproductive organs were stronger than vegetative organs. Since L. camara is perennial, hence, large quantity of flowers and fruits produced more allelochemicals. The allelopathic effects of its reproductive organs makes it more competitive and invasive.
Alien plants, allelopathy, biological invasion, germination, seedling growth
