Allelopathic effect of mandarin (Citrus reticulata L.) on common cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium L.) and thornapple (Datura stramonium L.)

Anna Peneva

Abstract: Allelopathic effect of a water extract and incorporated dry powder of mandarin rinds (Citrus reticulata L.) on germination and growth dynamics of common cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium L.) and thornapple (Datura stramonium L.) was studied in pot trials. Ground mandarin rinds were allowed to decay for 24 h in normal cold water in a ratio 1: 10 w/v at a room temperature (25 ⁰C) in the dark. The fltrated extracts containing 5 g per pot plant material as well as the same quantity of dry rind powder were applied in the pots with preliminary sown seeds (at 5 per pot for X. strumarium and 10 per pot for D. stramonium). Water extracts (and normal water in the control) were put at a quantity of 50 cm3 per
pot with 200 g ground and screened through a sieve with 0.5 mm d of the holes absolutely dry soil, and the dry powder was incorporated into the soil in the pots. Soil moisture of 50% was kept every day. At the 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th and 35th days after the treatment (DAT) the percentage germinated seeds was determined and at the 35th DAT the height, the root length, the fresh and the dry weights of the seedlings were recorded. The data was statistically analyzed at p < 0.05 by ANOVA and t-test. It was established that the water extract and the incorporated dry powder of mandarin rinds have a negative allelopathic
effect on germination and growth dynamics of X. strumarium and D. stramonium and a tendency for a slight stimulating effect on the fresh weight of the weeds that is not statistically proved. The incorporated dry powder has more clearly expressed negative allelopathic effect than the water extract.

Keywords: allelopathy; Citrus reticulate; common cocklebur; Datura stramonium; mandarin; thornapple; Xanthium strumarium

Date published: 2017-08-09