Biochemical Impact of Dominant Extracts of Scots Pine Cuttings on Germination

The main objective of this study was to determine the allelopathic impact of dominant species (Calamagrostis epigeios, Rubus idaeus and Chamaenerion angustifolium) of clear-cuttings of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forests (Vaccinio-myrtillo Pinetum) on test species germination emphasizing the forest ecosystem establishment. Aqueous extracts of roots and shoots were produced at different growth stages and assayed on germination. Additionally, total concentration of phenols was evaluated photo spectrometrically. Extracts of shoots more strongly inhibited germination than those of roots of all investigated species. The strongest inhibitory effect on germination and the highest phenol contents were documented during the flowering stage rather than in spring and autumn. Accordingly, to mean germination data the declining phytotoxicity sequence of the species was determined: R. idaeus > C. epigeios > Ch. angustifolium. Hence this study implied in allelopathic activity of species a potential suppressive factor that could influence germination and forest regeneration, but field condition studies are necessaryVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij