Allelopathic management of the noxious weed; Phalaris minor Retz. growing in Triticum aestivum L. fields

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

2 Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alex

3 Karyouns University (Libya)

Abstract

The present investigation aims to study the biological activity of different concentrations (10, 20 and 40%) of Deverra tortuosa (DTSCP) and Haplophyllum tuberculatum (HTSCP) shoot crude powder as well as a mixture (w/w) of both donor species on some growth parameters, some nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Na, Mg, Fe, Mn and Zn), photosynthetic pigments, and protein profile of Triticum aestivum (crop species) and Phalaris minor (weed species) in pure and mixed cultures. In general the measured growth parameters (seedling fresh and dry weight, seedling shoot and root length and leaf area) were more affected in P. minor compared to T. aestivum. There was a significant decrease in the concentration of micronutrients as well as the total photosynthetic pigment contents of P. minor seedlings grown in both DTSCP and HTSCP. Furthermore, treatments with both donor species differentially affected protein expression of the two recipient species. New proteins have been expressed in the treated test plants as compared to controls. The expression of these new proteins could be explained on the basis that to neutralize the effect of allelochemicals produced by invasive plant powders on the treated test plants.

Keywords