Allelopathic potential of Codiaeum variegatum L. Rumph. Ex A. Juss. On germination, early growth and biochemical characteristics of Lolium perenne L

Abstract

In this study, the allelopathic potential of aqueous extracts of Codiaeum variegatum L. Rumph. Ex A. Juss. (40%, 20%, 10%, 5%, 2.5%, and 1.25%) on germination, early growth, and physiological activity of the selected plant recipient Lolium perenne L. was investigated. The obtained results confirmed the existence of allelopathic potential, which differed in its possibilities of adverse effects on the morphological and physiological characteristics of the recipient plant. The monitoring of the germination characteristics of the recipient plant showed that the tested extracts exhibited a concentration-dependent effect, i.e., stronger concentrations had a stronger inhibitory effect. A weaker negative effect on the growth of the selected species was observed, and it was shown that the root length of the seedling was usually under the stronger inhibitory effect of higher concentrations of extracts, in contrast to the length of the shoot, where all the applied extracts had a significant stimulatory effects. Moreover, allelochemicals of C. variegatum were shown to interfere with the synthesis of phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity of L. perenne seedlings, the values of which decreased with increasing concentration of test extracts.