Allelopathic potential of Pteridium aquilinum, Acer saccharum and Populus grandidentata on germination and radicle growth of Parris Island cos lettuce seeds.

Abstract

THis study was conducted to reveal if plant extracts with supposed allelopathic potential such as bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) and sugar maple (Acer saccharum) affect parris island cos lettuce seed germination and radicle growth differently than a plant extract that is not suspected of being allelopathic such as big tooth aspen (Populus grandidentata) or a distilled water control. Seed germination within five days was significantly greater in distilled water than in 10 bracken fern extract. Significantly greater radicle growth of germinated lettuce seeds resulted in distilled water than in 10 bracken fern, 10 big tooth aspen, 10 sugar maple and 10-1 sugar maple extracts. These results indicate that reportedly allelopathic bracken fern has an allelopathic affect upon lettuce seed germination. Yet, supposedly non-allelopathic big tooth aspen, as well as reportedly allelopathic bracken fern and sugar maple all reduce lettuce seed radicle growth, indicating something other than allelopathy may be causing depressed growth.