Abstract
Dischidia imbricata (Blume) Steud. is a herbaceous plant belonging to the Apocynaceae family. This plant has been reported to possess various pharmacological properties, however, there has been no report related to its allelopathic properties. Therefore, the aqueous methanol extracts of D. imbricata were examined for possible allelopathic activity against the seedling growth of dicotyledonous plants; lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), cress (Lepidium sativum L.), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), and monocotyledonous plants; barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv.), Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), and timothy (Phleum pratense L.). D. imbricata extracts exhibited a significant inhibition on the seedling growth of all the test plant species at the concentration ≥ 0.01 g dry weight equivalent extract mL-1. The seedling growth of lettuce showed the highest inhibition with D. imbricata extracts followed by alfalfa and cress, whereas the least inhibition was found on the seedling growth of timothy. Concentrations required for 50% inhibition (I50 values) of all the test plant species were in the range of 0.003 to 0.067 g D.W. equivalent extract mL-1 for shoot growth, and 0.018 to 0.026 g D.W. equivalent extract mL-1 for root growth. In addition considering the I50 values, the root growth of the test plant species was more sensitive to D. imbricata extracts than their shoot growth, except cress seedling. These results indicated that D. imbricata may possess allelopathic activity and may contain allelopathic substances.
 
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 In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 4, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue.
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Highlights
Weeds are one of the major causes of yield loss and low crop quality
Some plants have been reported to possess the allelopathic potential and those plants have been applied as a natural herbicide in crop production such as Houttuynia cordata
The aqueous methanol extracts from D. imbricata were applied to the test plant species with different extract concentrations
Summary
Weeds are one of the major causes of yield loss and low crop quality. Synthetic herbicides are commonly used to control weeds in agricultural systems. Excessive use of herbicides causes negative impacts on humans, animals, and the contamination of environment, as well as leads to an increase of herbicide resistance in many weed species (Bhadoria, 2011; Awan et al, 2015). Researchers are searching for sustainable and environmentally friendly methods to control weeds (Bajwa et al, 2015; Amb and Ahluwalia, 2016). The utilization of allelopathic compounds is widely considered as an alternative strategy for weed control. Some plants have been reported to possess the allelopathic potential and those plants have been applied as a natural herbicide in crop production such as Houttuynia cordata
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