Journal of Plant Process and Function

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In order to investigate and compare the allelopathic effects of Eucalyptus (E.globuhus Labill) leaf aqueous extract and leaf mulch on corn (Zea mays L.) and wild millet (Panicum miliaceum L.), a factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. The experiment was carried out in seedling stage to evaluate the allelopathic effect of leaf aqueous extract (5, 10, 15 and 20 g/L) and leaf mulch (3 and 5 %) on some morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics of the plants in this stage. Aqueous extract of Eucalyptus leaf (in most cases) and leaf mulch reduced the height of shoot, the total length of roots, the fresh weight of shoot and root, the dry weight of shoot and roots. So that the highest reduction percentage of these traits was observed in the treatment of 20 g/L aqueous extracts on wild millet. Chlorophyll a, b and total, carotenoid contents and chlorophyll stability coefficient of corn seedlings showed an incremental increase (compared to control) when treated with leaf aqueous extract. While all photosynthetic traits of millet weed decreased under all the aqueous extract and mulch treatments. The increase and decrease of membrane stability coefficient were seen in corn and wild millet respectively, when they were affected with both kind of treatments. Although the accumulation of malondialdehyde was the highest in treated millet seedlings, but corn seedlings could significantly reduce the peroxidation of membrane lipids against the stress caused by leaf extract and mulch. More increasing effects of aqueous extract and mulch on total phenol content of corn than wild millet was another results of this study. Although the total protein content of corn and weed was decreased by both treatments, but the treatment of extracts could have a better boundary between the sensitivity of plants against the allelopathic stress. A significant reduction of nitrate reductase activity in wild millet was recorded under the treatments. According to the results of this study, leaf aqueous extract or powder has different effects on biochemical, physiological and developmental traits of crops and weeds. Considering the potential of Eucalyptus leaf extract and leaf mulch on corn and wild millet, it is recommended that the plant extract can be an ideal candidate (compared with leaf powder) as a natural herbicide to control millet grass in corn fields.

Keywords: Wild millet, Eucalyptus, Allelopathy, Leaf mulch, Corn, Aqueous extract, Natural herbicide.

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