Allelopathic effects of pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) and red amaranth (A. cruentus L.) extracts on maize germination

Alelopatija je pojav, pri katerem neka rastlina ali mikroorganizem izloča alelokemikalije, te pa stimulativno ali zaviralno delujejo na sosednji organizem (rastlino, mikroorganizem). Znani so alelopatski učinki plevelnega ščira, informacije o morebitnih alelopatskih učinkih zrnatega ščira pa so omejene. Namen raziskave je bil proučiti in primerjati vpliv srhkodlakavega (Amaranthus retrofleksus L.) in mehiškega zrnatega ščira (A. cruentus L. cv. \u27G6\u27) na proces kalitve in morfološke lastnosti rastlinic koruze (Zea mays L.). Raziskava je vklučevala ekstrakte različnih rastlinskih delov aplicirane v različnih koncentracijah. Kot kontrolo smo uporabili destilirano vodo. Učinek ekstraktov je odvisen predvsem od rastlinskega dela iz katerega je pripravljen in koncentracije. Posebej zaviralno delujejo ekstrakti iz listov srhkodlakavega ščira in iz socvetij zrnatega ščira pri višjih koncentracijah. Ekstrakti iz korenin ne vplivajo, ali celo stimulativno delujejo na proces kalitve in morfološke lastnosti rastlinic koruze.Allelopathy is a beneficial or harmful effect of one organism (plant or microorganism) on another by the release of allelochemicals. Allelopathic activity of weedy amaranths is proven, but there is a lack of the information of grain amaranths and their allelopathic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare allelopathic effects of extracts from pigweed amaranth (Amaranthus retrofleksus L.) and grain (red) amaranth (A. cruentus L. cv. \u27G6\u27) on germination process and morphological characteristics of maize (Zea mays L.). The research included extracts in different concentrations from different plant parts of both species. Distilled water was used as the control. Concentration and plant part had the strongest impact on maize germination. Particularly the pronounced inhibition was shown in leaves extracts from pigweed amaranth and in extracts of grain amaranth from inflorescences. Inhibition was more significant when extracts were applied in higher concentrations. Root extracts did not significantly affect the parameters of germination process and morphological properties of maize. Moreover, root extracts stimulated particular parameters