Allelopathic Effect of Fallopia japonica Hot Water Extracts on Xanthium strumarium

Abstract

 Allelopathic effect of hot water extracts of fresh and dry leaves, stems, roots and soil around the roots of the invasive weed species Fallopia japonica was studied in laboratory trials on Xanthium strumarium germination and growth dynamics. The infusions of F. japonica parts (in a racio 1: 10 w/v) were allowed to decay for 24 h at a room temperature in the dark and then applied in pots containing 700 g sand (at 70 cm3 per pot) in 3 ways – to sown the same day seeds of X. strumarium (at 10 per pot), after sowing preliminary put in water for 7 days seeds and 7 days after the sowing. Every week the percentage germinated X. strumarium seeds was determined and on the last measuring the growth dynamics of X. strumarium (the height and root length, the fresh and dry weights) were recorded. The data were statistically analyzed by ANOVA and t-test at p < 0.05. It was established that the most effective against X. strumarium were the infusions applied after sowing the preliminary put in water seeds. The results show the possibility for ecological weed control of X. strumarium.