Effects of Eucalyptus Litter Extract on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Zenia insignis Chun

Abstract

To demonstrate the influence of Eucalyptus litter extract on the germination and seedling growth of Zenia insignis for a providing theoretical basis for Eucalyptus plantation reconstruction and optimization of forest stand structure, an indoor artificial simulation experiment was conducted us-ing five different concentration gradients of Eucalyptus litter extracts for petri dish germination and potted experiments. The results showed that: 1) Eucalyptus litter extract had a concentration effect of “low promotion and high inhibition” on the allelopathy of seed germination and seedling growth of Z . insignis . In the mass concentration range of 0 g/mL~0.05 g/mL, it had a certain promoting effect on the seed germination and seedling growth of Z . insignis ; When the concentration exceeds 0.10 g/mL, it has a significant inhibitory effect on the germination and seedling growth of Z . insignis seeds. 2) According to the calculation results of the comprehensive allelopathy index, the allelopathy of Eucalyptus litter extract on the seed germination of Z . insignis is greater than its allelopathy on the seedling growth of Z . insignis . Due to the relatively small impact of liquefied substances extracted from Eucalyptus litter on seed germination and seedling growth of Z . insignis , it is theoretically feasible to use Z . insignis as a mixed tree species in Eucalyptus plantations for stand transformation.