Assessment method for allelopathic effect from leaf litter leachates |
| |
Authors: | YOSHIHARU FUJII TOMOKO SHIBUYA KEIKO NAKATANI TOMIO ITANI SYUNTARO HIRADATE MOHAMMAD M PARVEZ |
| |
Institution: | Chemical Ecology Unit, National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences,;Laboratory of Upland Weed, Central National Agricultural Research, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, and;Hiroshima Prefectural University, Shobara, Hiroshima, Japan |
| |
Abstract: | In order to elucidate the allelopathic effect of leaf litter leachates under laboratory conditions, a modified 'sandwich method', which places leaves between two layers of agar, was used. Fifty mg of leaves was used per 10 cm2 cell. Agar concentrations at 0.5–1.0% were the best for gel support in determining radicle and hypocotyl elongation of lettuce. The optimum incubation time for bioassay was three days after imbibition onset. Among 20 typical tree species in Asia, Cymbopogon citratus and Derris scandens showed the strongest inhibitory activity determined by the sandwich method, followed by Piper betle, Tamarindus indica, and Gliricidia sepium. This bioassay seems to be a reliable method for screening allelopathic activity from leaf litter leachates. |
| |
Keywords: | allelopathy leaf litter leachate sandwich method |
|
|