First Broad Screening of Allelopathic Potential of Wild and Cultivated Plants in Turkey

Abstract

Turkey has one of the richest plant diversities in the Mediterranean region. In the current literature, no broad screening has been conducted on the potential allelopathy of plants from Turkey. This study aimed to evaluate the allelopathic activity of a large number of plants from Turkey for the first time and to determine the species with significant plant growth inhibitory potentials by bioassay. Dried samples of different plant parts were collected from local herbalists. The sandwich method was used to evaluate the potential allelopathy of 126 medicinal plants belonging to 55 families. The results of lettuce radicle and hypocotyl growth for 10 and 50 mg sample treatment conformed to normal distribution. Significant inhibition on lettuce radicle elongation with 10 mg sample was observed in 40 species, out of which 27 species showed over 50% inhibitory activity. The results suggested that these species could contain potential inhibitory compounds against lettuce radicle or hypocotyl growth. The calyxes of Hibiscus sabdariffa (3.2% of control) and the seeds of Prunus dulcis (5.7% of control) showed the most potent growth inhibitory activity on lettuce radicle elongation. The potential plant growth inhibitory effects of these plants, together with the fruits of Rhus coriaria and seeds of Prunus mahaleb, have been reported in this study for the first time. All these plants are medicinal, and the results hereby presented provide essential information about the allelopathic effects of medicinal plants from Turkey.

Bioherbicidal Properties of Parthenium hysterophorus, Cleome rutidosperma and Borreria alata Extracts on Selected Crop and Weed Species

“…In most of the allelopathic studies, laboratory bioassay has mainly been used by the researchers to identify allelopathic plants because of their rapid out return. Additionally, bioassay performance may help the researchers to predict the allelopathic potentials of a plant in glasshouse or field conditions [18]. However, a plant that showed strong allelopathic activity on target plants in s laboratory bioassay, might differ in glasshouse or field conditions due to the influence of several environmental determinants [19].…”

Weed Control Efficacy and Crop-Weed Selectivity of a New Bioherbicide WeedLock

“…Bioherbicides are adequate but need to be regularly incorporated into integrated weed management programs to fully bestow their potential in controlling weeds [7,11]. Bioassay performance may help researchers to predict a bioherbicide's potential in glasshouse or field conditions [22]. However, the performance of bioherbicide might differ due to the influence of several environmental determinants in glasshouse or field conditions [23].…”