CHEMICAL INHIBITION OF CROP GERMINATION BY WEED SEEDS AND THE NATURE OF INHIBITION BY ABUTILON THEOPHRASTI

Summary. Aqueous extracts of the ground seeds of thirteen weed species were assayed for their ability to inhibit the germination on filler paper of eight crop species. All of the extracts delayed germination of at least some of the crop species. Germination of some crop species was delayed when the crop seeds were surrounded by weed seeds on filter paper, The seeds of Abutilon theophrasti were inhibitory to tomato ( Lycopersicum esculentum ) germinated in sterile and non-sterile soil in the laboratory. The inhibition of germination was apparent under conditions which excluded light, water and minerals as factors in the competition. Chemical studies indicated that the inhibition by Abutilon seeds was due to free amino acids emanating from the seeds.
Inhibition chimique de la germination de plantes cultivées par des semences de mauvaises herbes et nature de l'inhibition par Abutilon theophrasti