Evaluation of Allelopathic Potential of Artemisia herba-alba on Germination and Seedling Growth of Raphanus sativus and Trigonella foenum-graecum
Hamida M. E. Hamad *
Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Libya.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The allelopathic effects of the aqueous extracts of aerial parts of Artemisia herba-alba at different concentrations (20, 40, 80%) were evaluated on germination and seedling growth of Raphanus sativus (Radish) and Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek) after 7 days "in vitro". Artemisia had strong allelopathic effects, it prevented the germination and seedling growth of Radish seeds, at highest concentrations (80%). Results obtained showed significant inhibition in germination percentage (GP), plumule length (PL) and radicle length (RL) of both Radish and Fenugreek seeds, and the degree of inhibition was concentration dependent. At 20 and 40% the germination percentage of Radish seed was reduced to (56.67%) and to (40%), while the germination of Fenugreek seeds was reduced to (80%) and to (63.33%) respectively. This inhibition was markedly in obvious Radish than in Fenugreek, indicating that is Raphanus sativus more sensitive, to the allelophahtic effect of the different concentrations of the aqueous extract of the A. herba alba plant.
Keywords: Allelopathy, germination, Artemisia herba-alba, aqueous extract