Allelopathic effects of some medicinal plant extracts on seed germination and growth of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Allelopathy is a biological term by which an organism produces one or more biyochemicals that influence the growth, survival, and reproduction of other organisms. These biochemicals are known as allelochemicals and can have positive or negative effects on the target organisms. In the study, allelopathic effects of some medicinal plants, native in our country, on seed germination and growth of bread wheat were determined. In this purpose, different concentrations (0, 1, 3, 10, 30 ve 100 mg/ml) of ethanolic extracts of medicinal plants (melissa, linden, daisy and rosemary) were investigated on during 7-days. Considering the germination rate, depending on the concentration of the plant extract, germination rates were decreased in melissa extracts of 1-100 mg/ml concentrations when compared to the control. The germination rates in linden extracts of 3-30 mg/ml concentrations were decreased when compared to the control, and germination was not observed in 100 mg/ml concentration. The germination rates were decreaed in 1-100 mg/ml daisy extract. The rates in rosemary extracts of 1-3 mg/ml concentrations were decreased, and germination was not observed in 10-100 mg/ml concentrations. Seedling growth and development were affected by the plant extracts as well. Thus, it may show that these extracts have allelopathic effect in wheat. Key Words: Allelopathy, Medicinal plants, Ethanolic extract, Germination