Inhibition of Turnip (Brassica rapa) Seed Germination by Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) Seed

Abstract

The allelopathic potential of germinating seed of velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic.) was established in a laboratory study with germinating seed of turnip (Brassica rapa L. ‘Purple Top’). Two-day-old velvetleaf seedlings inhibited radicle growth of germinating turnip by 17% at 24 h after both were placed in the same petri plate. Alcoholic and aqueous extracts of velvetleaf seed, however, seriously inhibited germination of turnip seed. The extract of velvetleaf seed was fractionated by ion-exchange chromatography into acid, basic, and neutral fractions. Most of the allelopathic activity was located in the acid fraction, which includes the plant phenolics. The basic fraction (amino acids) inhibited radicle growth of turnip by 18% after 48 h. The amino acid profile of velvetleaf seed extracts is presented and discussed, because this fraction has previously been implicated as the allelopathic fraction.