Abstract:
Allelopathy is an important
biological process, which has direct or
indirect effects on the germination and
growth potentials of plants. Awareness
about the allelopathic properties of plants
which prevail in agricultural systems can
help growers to amend crop cultivation
patterns accordingly. In this study, we
evaluated the allelopathic effects of Ficus
benjamina on germination and early
seedling growth of four hybrids of
sunflower (Oliver, Parsun-3, SFH-80 and
NK- S- 278). Ethanolic and hot-water
aqueous extracts from leaves, while litter
and mulches of the test allelopathic plant
significantly reduced germination, radicle
and hypocotyle growth of sunflower.
Germination percentage was drastically
reduced in all the four sunflower hybrids
by ethanolic, hot-water and litter extracts;
however, compared to control, mulching
assay significantly increased germination
in hybrids Oliver (76%), Parsun-3 (42%),
SFH-80 (78%) and NK-S-278 (30%) at 2,
4, 8 and 12g extract concentration,
respectively. Hypocotyle and radicle
length of test hybrids were significantly
reduced in each assay type. Among tested
assays, ethanolic extracts revealed more
drastic effects on the studied parameters
than hot-water, litter, and mulching.
Sunflower hybrid NK-S-278 was more
severely affected, while Parsun-3
exhibited resistance to the allelopathic
stress. Inhibitory effects were more
prominent with increasing concentration
of the extracts. The order of the phytotoxic
effects of tested bioassays was ethanolic
extract˃ hot-water˃ litter˃ mulching.
The study suggested that Ficus leaves
may possess potent allelochemicals with
growth inhibitory effects on sunflower
seedlings. It is suggested that further
study might be required to check the
allelopathic effect of Ficus benjamina on
germination and growth of these
sunflower hybrids in field conditions.
