Allelopathic Effects of Arum cyreniacum on Germination and Growth of Two Varieties of Vicia faba

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted (laboratory - pots) at the lab of Botany Department/ Faculty of Science/ Omar Al-Mukhtar University/ Al Bayda/ Libya, with the aim of determining the allopathic effects of aqueous extracts at concentrations of (10, 20, and 40%) and the crude powder added to the soil at concentrations of (1, 2, and 4%) of Arum cyreniacum (Tubers - Leaves) on the germination of seeds and the development of seedlings of two Vicia faba cultivars (local - Massa), with three replications according to a completely randomized design. The results of the laboratory experiment showed significant differences in the reduction of germination percentage, reduction of radicle and plumule lengths between the aqueous extracts, and concentrations of Vicia faba cultivars (local - Massa), compared with control. The results of a pot experiment also showed that the high concentrations significantly reduced the emergence percentage of seedlings, while all concentrations led to a clear and large reduction in root and shoot system lengths and a decrease in fresh and dry weights of seedlings of (local - Massa) cultivars. Most of the concentrations used caused an accumulation of chlorophyll (a) and carotenoids, and decreased the concentration of chlorophyll (b), it also led to an accumulation of potassium, iron, copper, and nickel, while they led to a decrease in the sodium concentration of two cultivars compared to the control, The tubers had the highest inhibition rates compared to the leaves, and the high concentrations of extracts and crude powder were the most toxic in inhibiting the growth of the studied traits of the two cultivars, Massa cultivar was more sensitive than the local cultivar.