Effects of alfalfa leaf extracts and phenolic allelochemicals on early seedling growth and root morphology of alfalfa and barnyard grass

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) plants contain water-soluble substances that are autotoxic as well as allelopathic to other plants. Laboratory experimentation through a petri dish assay with imbibed seeds was conducted to evaluate the phytotoxic effects of alfalfa cv. "Vernal" leaf extracts, coumarin, trans-cinnamic acid, o-coumaric acid, and hydro-cinnamic acid on the seedling growth and anatomical responses of 6 day-old alfalfa and barnyard grass. With increasing concentration, the alfalfa leaf extracts significantly reduced root lengths of alfalfa and barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli, Beauv. var. oryzicola Ohwi). Coumarin, trans-cinnamic acid, o-coumaric acid, and hydro-cinnamic acid at 10(-4) M significantly reduced root lengths of alfalfa and barnyard grass. The root systems, especially root tips of alfalfa, were stunted and swollen by the aqueous alfalfa leaf extracts at 30 gl(-1) and coumarin at 10(-3) M. This research suggests that alfalfa plant extracts significantly affected root growth and morphological differentiation of susceptible plants, resulting in reduction of their biomass in the presence of either autotoxic or allelopathic compounds. The results may have value in enabling weed control based on natural plant extracts. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.