Suppression effects of Lantana camara L. aqueous extracts on germination efficiency of Phalaris minor Retz. and Sorghum bicolor L. (Moench)

The effect of cold and hot aqueous leaf extracts of Lantana camara L. on the germination and seedling growth of Phalaris minor Retz. and Sorghum bicolor L. (Moench) was evaluated. Bioassays indicated that the inhibitory effect of the allelopathic plant on the germination percentage (GP), inhibition percentage (IP) and seed germination index (SGI) of the two recipient weed species was proportional to the concentration of the extract. High concentrations had stronger inhibitory effect than low concentrations that showed no stimulatory effect on both species. Both plumule (PL) and radicle (RL) lengths of the recipient species were affected negatively due to the addition of L. camara extracts and this effect was directly proportional to the concentration and more significant in the case of the radicle of P. minor compared with S. bicolor. Our results suggested that L. camara aqueous extract could be used as a potential allelopathic substance for some weed bio-control.