Allelopathic effect of Elytrigia repens (L.) Nevski on germination and early growth of spring wheat

Abstract

The allelopathic-phytotoxic influence of quack-grass (Elytrigia repens) overground and rhizome biomass water extracts on grain germination and early growth of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. variety SW Estrad C2) was investigated in laboratory experiments. After grinding, 50 g air-dried plant part (overground or rhizomes) was stirred into 500 ml of distilled water and left for 24 h at room temperature. Filtered water extract was taken as a stock solution, which was applied in 2-, 5- and 10-fold dilution, distilled water application served as control treatment. The spring wheat grain germination was checked after 5 and 11 days of sprouting using 5, 10 and 15 grains per Petri dish as different concentration of recipient plant, also, after 11 days of sprouting spring wheat seedling and radicle lengths were measured. Elytrigia repens rhizome water extracts showed higher inhibitory effect on spring wheat grain germination and early growth than water extracts of overground part. Elytrigia repens overground part water extracts of low concentrations had tendency to increase spring wheat grain germination. Spring wheat grain germination decreased till 1.7 and 2.4 times in Elytrigia repens overground part and rhizome stock solution accordingly. Spring wheat grain sprouting time after 5 or 11 days showed similar tendencies of grain germination with slightly higher germination after 11 days of sprouting. Increasing concentration of recipient plant, spring wheat grain number from 5 to 10 and 15 grains per Petri dish, did not have essential influence on its germination. Elytrigia repens overground part and rhizome water extracts initiated spring wheat seedling length growth. Spring wheat grain radicle growth was inhibited only in Elytrigia repens overground part stock solution. Increasing concentration from distilled water to stock solution of Elytrigia repens rhizome water extract the radicle length of spring wheat regularly decreased.