Allelopathic Effect of Calotropis procera Leaves Extract on Seed Germination of Some Plants

Abstract

The effect of dry leaf water extraction (5, 10, 20, 40 and 60%) of Calotropis procera Decne. plants on the germination of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), Cucumber (Cucumis satirus) L., Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L.) and Alssana (Senna occidentalis L. Link) was investigated. The results showed that the germination delayed at the higher concentrations, and the final germination percentage was decreased by increasing leaf extract concentration. The most affected seeds of the tested plants were Senna occidentalis seeds, which were inhibited at the last two treatments (40 and 60%). Generally, the radicle and Plumule growth was sensitive to different levels of leaf extraction whereas, the radicle length was decreased by increasing the extract concentration; it died at the higher concentrations (40 and 60%) for Alssana seeds. Plumule emergence and growth stimulated by the lower concentration (5%) for Alssana Cucumber and Fenugreek more than control treatment, and then the plumule length decreased with increasing the concentration in leaf extracted of C. procera plants.