Evaluation of Potential Volatile Allelopathic Plants from Bangladesh, with Sapindus mukorossi as a Candidate Species

Abstract

This study focuses on identifying volatile emissions from plants with potential plant growth inhibitory activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate plant species from the Asian country Bangladesh for new, potential volatile allelopathic species. A total of 103 plant samples from 40 different families were assessed with the dish pack (DP) method. About 25% of the evaluated plant samples influenced (inhibited or stimulated) the growth of lettuce, due to the presence of potentially volatile allelochemicals. The pericarp of Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn. caused the lowest radicle elongation (3% of control) of the lettuce. This was followed by the leaves of Cassia nodosa Roxb. (34.4%) and the root of Kaempferia galangal L. (43.4%), in that order. Therefore, the pericarp of S. mukorossi is reported from this study as a new potential volatile allelopathic species. On the contrary, the leaves of Gynostemma pentaphyllum Thunb. had a stimulatory effect on the hypocotyl elongation of lettuce seedlings (156% of control). The single petri dish (SPD), a new method, was also adapted to justify the potentiality of the growth control of particular allelopathic species. This study revealed that the new potentially volatile allelopathic plant species could be further explored in sustainable weed management.