Inhibitory effect of wild mango (Mangifera foetida L.) extract on seed germination of Cynodons dactylon (L.) Pers.

Abstract

Abstract.In an attempt to reduce the use of synthetic herbicides, investigations to explore the potency of natural products as bioherbicides are needed to be done. Mangifera foetida L. or wild mango was suspected having a high content of allelochemicals to support its growth. The aims of this research were to determine the bioherbicidal potency of the wild mango's root, stem and leaf extracts on Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. seed germination, identify bioactive compounds of the potential fraction of the potent extract and determine the inhibitor specificity on rice seeds germination. Extraction was done by maceration using 80 % methanol. The inhibitory test of seed germination was done at the concentration of 0 %, 6.25 %, 12.5 %, 25 % and 50 %. The observation was done every day with three replicates per treatment for 14 d. The potential extract was further fractionated using n-hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol. The fraction having the highest inhibitory effect was analyzed using thin layer chromatography (TLC) for the bioactive content study. Data obtained was analyzed using ANOVA and followed by DMRT. The results of weed germination inhibition showed that IC 50 of wild mango's roots, stems and leaves were 12.2 %, 36.2 % and 16.9 %, respectively. Leaf extract was chosen for fractionation due to its sustainability of the samples. Ethanol fraction gave the highest inhibitory effect. The phytochemical tube assay and TLC analysis showed that the ethanol fraction of the wild mango's leaf extract contained phenols, coumarins, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids and quinones. All of the extracts did not show any inhibitory effect on rice seed germination.