Аllelopatic influence of weeds on corn seed germination

Goal. To investigate the effect of water extracts of weeds on the germination of corn seeds. Methods. Informational and analytical, laboratory research, mathematical and statistical. Weed plants (10 g) were crushed, poured with boiling water (200 ml), infused until cooled, 1 ml of the finished solution was taken and placed in Petri dishes and corn seeds were laid out. Seed germination was recorded after 3—4 days. The effect of aqueous extracts of 17 types of weeds was investigated. Results. Weed plants showed both inhibitory and stimulating effects on the germination of corn seeds. Seeds germinated intensively with 100% germination in plant extracts of Chenopodium album L., Setaria glauca L. and Galium aparine L. Other species inhibited seed germination to one degree or another. The greatest suppression was shown by the plants of Barbaréa vulgáris R. Br., Polygonum convolvulus L., Elymus repens (L.) Gould and Erigeron canadensis L., in the extracts of which only 65—75.0% of seeds. A slight inhibitory effect on the germination of corn seeds was also exerted by sorghum, birch mustard, common flatleaf, and yellow thistle with a germination rate of 80%, 83% and 85%. In the extracts of such plants as Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., Convolvulus arvensis L., Taraxacum officinale Wigg., Portulaca oleracea L., Equisetum arvense L. maize seed germination had a depressed appearance, with small stems without root formation, indicating an indirect effect of these plants on maize seed germination. Conclusions. Water-soluble secretions from weed plants showed a direct inhibitory, mediated, or stimulating effect on the germination of corn seeds. Chenopodium album L., Setaria glauca L. and Galium aparine L. had no negative effect on corn seed germination. However, most weeds inhibited seed germination. The greatest suppression was shown by the extracts of Barbaréa vulgáris R. Br., Polygonum convolvulus L. and Erigeron canadensis L.