Articles
May barley and rye extracts have an allelopathic inhibition effect on weed seedling root development by suppressing mycorrhization?
Article number
1105_37
Pages
361 – 368
Language
English
Abstract
Barley and rye are commonly-used cover crops (as Ecological Service providing Crops, ESCs), whose allelopathic potential effect is well recognized.
The scope of this research was to assess the allelopathic properties of their extracts on weed seed germination and root development.
Moreover, we wanted to verify if allelochemicals contained in barley and rye extracts (ACEs) could affect mycorrhization of weed roots in the early stage of germination.
Under controlled conditions, the effect of ACE (25 g FW 80 mL-1 H2O) at increasing concentrations was assessed on curly dock (a widespread weed used as a model plant), determining seed germination percentage and seedling root length, compared to a control (water). Curly dock roots were also stained/destained and observed by optical microscope, in order to evaluate the effect of ACE on potential mycorrhization.
Results indicated that ACEs significantly affected curly dock seed germination at the most concentrated condition (i.e., 100%). Moreover, the application of ACEs resulted in no weed root elongation, or its significant decrease, in comparison with the untreated control.
Furthermore, microscopic analysis evidenced a significant reduction of the early-stage endo-mycorrhization of curly dock roots after ACE treatments, suggesting that a plant, which naturally synthesizes allelochemical compounds, can influence weed presence and growth by regulating mycorrhization and crop-weed interference.
The scope of this research was to assess the allelopathic properties of their extracts on weed seed germination and root development.
Moreover, we wanted to verify if allelochemicals contained in barley and rye extracts (ACEs) could affect mycorrhization of weed roots in the early stage of germination.
Under controlled conditions, the effect of ACE (25 g FW 80 mL-1 H2O) at increasing concentrations was assessed on curly dock (a widespread weed used as a model plant), determining seed germination percentage and seedling root length, compared to a control (water). Curly dock roots were also stained/destained and observed by optical microscope, in order to evaluate the effect of ACE on potential mycorrhization.
Results indicated that ACEs significantly affected curly dock seed germination at the most concentrated condition (i.e., 100%). Moreover, the application of ACEs resulted in no weed root elongation, or its significant decrease, in comparison with the untreated control.
Furthermore, microscopic analysis evidenced a significant reduction of the early-stage endo-mycorrhization of curly dock roots after ACE treatments, suggesting that a plant, which naturally synthesizes allelochemical compounds, can influence weed presence and growth by regulating mycorrhization and crop-weed interference.
Authors
A. Trinchera, E. Testani, C. Ciaccia, F. Tittarelli, S. Canali
Keywords
germination, barley, rye, root elongation, allelochemicals, AM fungi, scanning electron microscopy, ESC
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