Allelopathic potential of aqueous extract of coral seeds (<i>Erythrina velutina</i> Willd.)

Abstract

The Erythrina velutina Willd has a great resistance to drought, has medicinal properties and allelopathic effect; so the aim of this study was to evaluate the allelopathic activity of aqueous extract of seeds of E. velutina in different concentrations on seed germination and seedling development of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Two experiments (a standard extract obtained with water at 25 °C and the other at 100 °C) were conducted in completely randomized design with five concentrations (control - distilled water, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) with four replicates of 25 seeds. The percentage and germination speed index (IVG), percentage of normal and abnormal seedlings, shoot and root length of lettuce seedlings were evaluated. The germination percentage was low (25 and 8%) in the extraction at 25 and 100 °C respectively, when 100% concentration of the extract was used. The percentage of abnormal seedlings was high, reaching 100% at all concentrations except for the extract at 25 °C and at a concentration of 25%. The extracts from E. velutina seeds have allelopathic activity on germination and growth of lettuce.