SCREENING OF SELECTED TERRESTRIAL PLANTS FOR THEIR EFFECTS ON SEED GERMINATION OF THREE AGRICULTURAL CROPS

Abstract

The allelopathic effect of leaf exteracts of of selected terrestrial plants on seed germination of some agricultural crops were investigated. For certain plants, the seed germination decreased in comparison with control (treated with distilled water) while in some cases it increased or remained the same as that of control.The plants which exhibited a decreased seed germination in comparison with the control were proposed to posess allelopathic effect . Thus it can be concluded that the plants that exhibited an allelopathic effect can be used as a potential candidate for isolation and identification of allelochemicals, which would be helpful to be developed as organic herbicides that are environmentally safe and less cost effective.