Allelopathic Effects of two Asteraceae Weeds (Artemisia annua and Taraxicum officinalis) on Germination of Maize and Wheat

Abstract

This study reports the allelopathic effects of aqueous leaf, root and flower extracts of Artemisia annua and Taraxicum officinalis at 20, 40 and 60% concentration on the germination of maize and wheat in laboratory conditions. Compared to control, germination percentage of two crops was significantly declined by the leaf extracts of two weeds. Root extracts had also inhibitory effects on germination but flower/inflorescences of weeds did not alter final germination of wheat and maize. Among tested extracts, 60% concentration of A. annua had more drastic effects on wheat and maize than lower concentrations. Maize was found comparatively tolerant to aqueous extracts of weeds than wheat. A. annua was recorded as more phytotoxic than T. officinalis while wheat showed more susceptibility than maize to the applied allelopathic stress. The order of phyto-toxicity of plant parts on germination inhibition was recorded as leaf > root > flowers.