doi:10.14720/aas.2017.109.2.18 Original research article / izvirni znanstveni članek In vitro allelopathic effect of aqueous extracts of sugarcane on germination parameters of wheat Abdul MAJEED1*, Zahir MUHAMMAD2, Manzoor HUSSAIN3 and Habib AHMAD4 Received January 26, 2017; accepted March 27, 2017. Delo je prispelo 26. januarja 2017, sprejeto 27. marca 2017. ABSTRACT IZVLEČEK Allelopathy – interactions among plants for resources along In vitro ALELOPATSKI UČINKI VODNIH with competition – is a composite phenomenon which has IZVLEČKOV SLADKORNEGA TRSA NA spacious potentials of application in agriculture. PARAMETRE KALITVE NAVADNE PŠENICE Understanding of interactions among plants, particularly cultivated crops, may be helpful in modifying crop cultivation Alelopatija – interakcije med rastlinami za vire preko pattern with consequent yields increments. In this study, we tekmovanja – je kompleksen fenomen, ki ima za uporabo v investigated the allelopathic effects of aqueous extracts of kmetijstvu velik pomen. Razumevanje teh interakcij med root, stem peels and leaves of sugarcane (Saccharum officinale rastlinami, še posebej med gojenimi, lahko pomaga pri L.) cultivar 51 at concentrations 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 g/l on spreminjanju načinov pridelave z znatnim povečanjem germination indices and seedling biomass of wheat (Triticum pridelka. V raziskavi so bili preučevani alelopatski učinki aestivum L.) cultivar Pirsabak-2005. Results demonstrated vodnih izvlečkov korenin, stebel in listov sladkornega trsa that higher concentration (10.0 g/l) of extracts of root, stem (Saccharum officinale L.), kultivarja 51, v koncentracijah 0, peels and leaves significantly decreased mean germination 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 in 10.0 g/l na kalitvene parametere in biomaso time (MGT) but increased shoot and seminal root growth and kalic krušne pšenice (Triticum aestivum L.), sorte Pirsabak- seedling dry biomass; however, germination percentage was 2005. Rezultati so pokazali, da so večje koncentracije affected neither by extract concentration nor by plant parts (10.0 g/l) izvlečkov korenin, stebla in listov značilno used in the study. Extract concentrations up to 7.5 g/l had no zmanjšale povprečni čas kalitve (MGT), a povečale rast effect on the studied parameters of wheat. Our result suggests semenskih korenin in poganjkov ter biomaso kalic, na that sugarcane’s allelopathy demonstrates healthy effects on odstotek kalitve pa niti koncentracija izvlečkov niti rastlinski wheat growth and that wheat could be cultivated in sequential organ nista vplivala. Izvlečki v koncentracijah do 7.5 g/l niso rotation in field conditions. imeli učinka na preučevane parametre pšenice. Rezultati nakazujejo, da ima sladkorni trs pozitivne alelopatske učinke Key words: allelopathy; sugar cane; common wheat; na rast pšenice in da lahko poljščino gojimo v kolobarju germination parameters; biomass; crop rotation neposredno za sladkornim trsom. Ključne besede: aleopatija; sladkorni trs; krušna pšenica; biomasa; parametri kalitve; kolobar 1 INTRODUCTION Allelopathy is a composite process occurring in natural allelopathy alone or in combination with competition, habitats as well as in cultivated fields and is generally plants can influence survival capability of in-range perceived as a mechanism of plants and microbes’ plants and other microorganisms in a manner that they capacity to maintain their dominance over others or at are constrained to either migrate to somewhere else or least to coexist in a given environment. Through to remain in the habitat in a defensive mode. The 1 Department of Botany, Government Degree College Naguman Peshawar, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; *Corresponding author: [email protected] 2 Department of Botany, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan 3 Department of Botany, Hazara University Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan 4 Islamia College University Peshawar, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan Acta agriculturae Slovenica, 109 - 2, september 2017 str. 349 - 356 Abdul MAJEED et al. influential capacity of one plant over the other is tobacco and sugarcane. Knowledge about allelopathic because of the metabolic compounds (known as nature of preceding crops may be helpful in modifying allelochemicals) they release into the surrounding cultivation pattern of wheat with other crops. During the environments either as volatile substances, rain last few years, allelopathic activities of several plants leachates, decomposed products or direct secretion to and agricultural crops including wheat have been rhizosphere with potential negative or positive rigorously worked out (Khaliq et al., 2013; Muhammad interactions with other plants and microbes (Barkosky et and Majeed, 2014). Sampietro and Vattuone (2006) al., 2000; Barto et al., 2010; Rice, 2012). observed root elongation of some selected weeds and Allelochemicals are generally secondary metabolites crops at lower concentrations while declined root present in different concentrations in different plant growth at higher concentration of aqueous extracts of parts (leaves, stem, barks, flowers, seeds etc.) which sugarcane straw. Nikneshan et al. (2011) investigated upon release into the rhizosphere tend to modify the aqueous extracts of air-dried leaf powder of eight resource consumption capacity by several mechanisms cultivars of sunflower for allelopathic activities on i.e., alteration of cell membrane permeability, changing wheat with decrease in germination indices at higher enzymatic activity, triggering genetic defects and extract concentrations. Majeed et al. (2012) observed disturbing photosynthesis of the competitor plants drastic effects of higher but stimulatory effects of lower (Gonzalez and Estevez-Braun, 1997; Wu et al., 2000; concentrations of aqueous extracts of Chenopodium Barto et al., 2010; Majeed et al., 2012). Interactions album L. on plant height, tillers, spike length and grain among plants for resources through allelopathy lead to yield of wheat. Variable results were obtained for physiological and biochemical modifications which may germination, plant height; fresh and dry mass of shoot result in the establishment of a successful plant and root of wheat under the allelopathic influence of community by eliminating or restricting the susceptible three weeds species viz: Asphodelus tenuifolius Cav., species, although many plants exhibit positive Euphorbia hirta L., and Fumaria indica (Hausskn.) allelopathic effects on the surrounding plants (Elijarrat Pugsley (Jabeen et al., 2013). Ullah et al. (2013) and Barcelo, 2001; Maharjan et al., 2007; Hussain et al., recorded suppressive effects on germination of 20 2010). Thus allelopathy may be successfully employed varieties of wheat treated with aqueous leaf extracts of in agriculture for enhancing crop productivity and weed Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., Acacia nilotica (L.) management (Fang et al., 2013). Willd. ex Delile, Helianthus annuus L. and Parthenium hysterophorus L. Common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the family Poaceae is an important agronomic crop widely Although sugarcane’s allelopathy has been worked out cultivated for grains which are used in food and several against weeds and some crops; however, reports on its other processed products. After maize and rice, wheat is allelopathic investigation against wheat are scarce in ranked the third most widely produced grain crops in literature. The aim of this work was to study the the world which has significant impact on meeting allelopathic activity of root, stem peels and leaves of global food demands and dietary needs (Hou et al., sugarcane on germination and seedling growth of wheat 2014). The crop in Pakistan is generally cultivated in in laboratory conditions. rotation with several other crops such as maize, rice, 2 MATERIALS AND METHODS 2.1 Plant materials sterilized flasks to get extracts of different concentrations. Aqueous extracts were stored at 4 °C in Mature plants of Sugarcane (Saccharum officinale L.) a refrigerator. cultivar 51 were collected at harvesting stage from cultivated fields in Naguman, Peshawar during 2013. 2.2 Bioassay Different plants parts i.e., leaves, stem peels and root were separated and dried under shade conditions. Dried Seeds of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar Pirsabak- parts were ground to powder with an electric grinder for 2005 were obtained from Agricultural Research further use. In order to get aqueous extracts of different Institute, Tarnab, Peshawar. Seeds were placed on twice concentration, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 g of dried powder folded filter paper as seed beds in petri-dishes. Each of each part i.e., leaves, stem peels and roots were petri-dish was provided with 10 ml of respective soaked for 24 h in 1litre distilled water each at room concentrated aqueous extracts. Control seeds were temperature. The soaked materials were filtered provided with the same volume of distilled water. Each through muslin cloth after 24 hours. Filtrate was again Petri dish had 10 seeds; each treatment was further filtered through filter paper (Whatman No. 1) in replicated 4 times. The experiment was arranged in a 350 Acta agriculturae Slovenica, 109 - 2, september 2017 In vitro allelopathic effect of aqueous extracts of sugarcane on germination parameters of wheat Completely Randomized Manner at room temperature beginning till the completion of germination (Basra et (20-25 °C) with 12 h photo period. The experiment was al., 2005). Dry biomass of seedling was determined as performed at Botany Department,