Allelopathic potential of aqueous leaf extracts of Datura stramonium L. on seed germination, seedling growth and root anatomy of Glycine max (L.) Merrill Cai S. L., Mu X. Q.* College of Life Sciences, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi712100, China *Conrespondence author: E.Mail: mxq@nwsuaf. edu.cn
Online published on 7 November, 2012. Abstract Allelopathic potential of aqueous leaf extracts of Datura stramonium L. was assessed on seed germination, seedling growth, root tip morphology, anatomy, and cell division of soybean. The extracts inhibited the seed germination and the degree of inhibition was concentration dependent. The extracts inhibited the primary root elongation and lateral root development and the degree of inhibition increased with increasing extract concentration; contrarily hypocotyl length was not affected. The higher extract concentrations inhibited the root hair development as shown by decreased root hair length and density.The extracts also altered the morphology and anatomy of root tips. At higher concentrations, the extracts inhibited the normal cell division in root tips and caused chromosomal aberration index and micronucleus index. Top Keywords Allelopathy, aqueous leaf extracts, bioassay, cell division, Datura stramonium L, germination, seedling growth, root tip anatomy, root hair development, soybean. Top |