Evaluation Of The Allelopathic Effect Of Cassia Absus L. Seeds On The Germination And Growth Of Two Target Weeds And Two Cultivated Pea Varieties

Abstract

The persistence of synthetic molecules can severely compromise the soil fertility of agricultural fields. The discovery of a natural herbicide could reduce these harmful environmental impacts. To identify natural plant-based products with herbicidal properties, the allelopathic potential of Cassia abssus L. was studied using an aqueous extract of its seeds at different concentrations (3, 4.5, and 6 g/L) during the germination of target cultivated and weed plants belonging to different genera and varieties of legumes. We tested these extracts on two weed species and two varieties of garden pea (Merveille de Kelvedon and Douce Provence) at a temperature of 25°C ±1. The inhibitory effect of these extracts has little impact on the germination of all the target plants studied. However, it is much more pronounced on elongation, which is more marked in the radicle than in the aerial parts, and on fresh biomass production. Our results suggest that Cassia absus seeds could become an invasive species if introduced into Algeria.